English Game Boards

Late 19th to early 20th century bocce balls, France, set of three boxwood, iron and brass nails. The first ball has the letters PP in brass, the second ha...

This is a very attractive complete game of Marble Solitaire with a hardwood circular board and 35 mixed stone marbles, probably French. The circular turned board is made of polished hardwood, with a good grain figure. The board has 32 equi-spaced holes with an additional one in the centre and a gallery to the outer perimeter. Three small circular pads have been attached to the base of the board to protect the surface it sits on. It comes complete with a full set of 35 (32 Plus 3 spare) handmade playing marbles of mixed stone, clay and agate and of different colours. Some of the clay marbles...

Very early American wooden games board; probably the oldest I have handled, this dates to about circa 1835 and exhibits the markings of a typical cottage industry type manufacture (not unlike very early Noah's Arks). Obviously entirely hand crafted; measurements are not exactly square (left to right; top to bottom), probably made of a local soft wood, and hand painted with squares not perfectly delineated. Black light and "loop" inspection reveals age crazing and original paint that, in conjunction with original wear and no attempt to touch up, dates it to the early 19th century. Most definitely American, as the last thing an English immigrant would have brought to America at that time would have been a game. When closed, or in the folding position, the board game simulates and is made to look like two books resting side by side (see images), and thusly, was made to sit on a book shelf, either horizontally or vertically; and to be pulled out to play games when desired, which would have been either the game of checkers (draughts), chess, or backgammon. The board opens up to a two sided game option. On one side is the proverbial 64 square (English/ American version) of chess or checkers; and on the other side is a backgammon board. Both sides are hand painted in gold and black, with a rust colored border around the checkerboard. The interior backgammon play area is also black and gold with the same color rust area to the central part. Nail hinges in the center frame, pivot the two sides to open, while a leather covering borders the edge trim, which is 50% lacking on the hinge side. I state the condition to be good, considering it's age, it's use, and the fact that it is still very "usable" and, if taken care of, will probably continue to be so for nearly another 200 years! The checkers, (12) black pieces and (12) yellow (the correct numbers) are hand carved in wood and hand painted. The backgammon pieces (stored in period wooden box) contain 14 yellow hand painted and carved pieces and (13) black ones. (15) of each color are used to play backgammon (simply use the checkers, which are just about the same size (see images) to make up the difference. Most antique game boards...

Fantastic psychedelic, out-of-this-world even, design by Steranko features on this original 1970s poster for Star Trek. This original vintage movie poster have been professionally...

19th C original painted game board. Nice original Salmon and black paint.

Chinese knotted tassels are used to add elegance to everyday items like hairpins or lanterns but they often hold sentimental value, and are passed down through families for generatio...

This is a good quality handmade Miniature or travelling wood chess set game of 32 pieces in its own inlaid hardwood box, which we date to the early 20th century, circa 1920. This piece is all handmade. The chess set is complete with 32 wood pieces having pegged bases. The jointed box is handmade of hardwood, possibly walnut with line inlays of a lighter wood to the top and the base. The lid is a good fit to the base and the box has brass hinges and a brass fastener to keep the lid securely closed. The inside of the lid has a fabric pad to keep the chess pieces in position when the lid is closed. Overall a quality handmade, complete, travelling chess set...

This is a high quality handmade Miniature or travelling wood chess set game of 32 pieces in its own lidded pokerwork decorated box, which we date to the English Edwardian period, cir...

Charming group of three 19th century games comprising a dartboard, star ring toss and bagatelle boards, all in original paint and possessing both whimsy and good graphic design. S...

Malachite chessboard This chess game comes from Congo in the 1960s. Each piece is meticulously hand-carved from two exquisite, contrasting materials: gleaming malachite and luxurious...

Double Sailor's Valentine of Sea Shells, Barbados, West Indies, Circa 1885 A double sailor's valentine with Spanish Cedar box with two sides. The right side is centered with a heart within within a ring of pink shells with beds of different colored sea shells at the border The left side has a star in the center and also with a circular ring of shells with alternating panels around the border Dimensions: Open: 18 1/2 inches wide x 9 inches x1 1/2 inches deep; Closed: 9 inches wide x 9 inches high x 3 inches deep See an article from the Seaport Museum, New York City, about the story and history of valentines. From Wikipedia A sailor's valentine is a form of shellcraft, a type of mostly antique souvenir...

Two sided game board with tribal attributes. American, circa 1900. Original paint. L 28-3/4" W 17-3/4".