19th Century Game Boards

Exceptional American folk art parlor game board featuring silk ribbons forming bold red and blue squares inset beneath glass within a bird's-eye maple frame; rare textile constructio...

19Thc Original cream & black painted game board from Pennsylvania.This game board has the original picture frame molding. The patina is the best.

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. In addition the screws/nails affixed to the hinges are hand forged and in my opinion are of the period I state. In my 50 years of dealing I have had several early 19th century "games" tables; this board game ensemble resembles some of those items. The dice container is also of that vintage. The checker pieces (14 black and 14 yellow) are early and hand carved; while the backgammon pieces in the period box (also hand carved) are turn of the 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...

Impressive collection of 4 antique primitive wooden game boards featuring three one sided checkerboard and one double sided that features checkers and a parcheesi board on the other ...

This antique mechanical game is known as "Jeu de Course" (The Race Game). Not for kiddies, it was a popular parlor and betting game produced in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The game includes six hand-painted lead horses ridden by jockeys in colorful silks. A lever on the front (marked with a cast plaque with the letters M.J. & Cie) activates the internal mechanism, causing the horses to revolve around the felt-covered track on a circular lane with cast metal "lamp post" gates. The winner is the horse that stops closest to the finish line, which was originally marked by a small flag (missing in this antique example). This game is housed in a wooden box with lid, finished in black with gold accents. A Jeu de Course game (specifically one by M.J. & Cie) is featured in a key scene in the 1993 movie “Dave.” It is central during an emotional moment between Dave Kovic (played by Kevin Kline, impersonating President Bill Mitchell) and First Lady Ellen Mitchell (played by Sigourney Weaver). Dave is playing with the mechanical horse race game...

19Thc Fantastic leather covered & painted on wood frame game board box / false book.This fine leather is all original painted interior and exterior.

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

Masterpiece quality American game board with fancifully painted cherubs, ca 1870 This is one of the greatest American painted Parcheesi boards extant. The fine quality of this is ...

On offer is a handmade Parcheesi game board signed on the back by Alice Muckelston, whose love of the game is expressed in the painted hearts. Parcheesi is an American adaptation of ...

19Thc Original mustard painted on a black painted base trimmed in red pin striped.The condition is very good and a undisturbed surface.

19th Folk Art gaming wheel featuring four cardinals and hand painted numbers, it retains the original red and yellow paint. A charming piece of Americana that would make a colorful w...

Red, black, and ochre white-painted, folding backgammon game board with leaf-like medallions, circa 1870-1890 American Backgammon and checker board, made of softwood, with a case ...

Authentic Scrimshaw carved into and antique tortoise shell with brass legs. Carved aboard the Ship Argonaut. A whaling ship from Sag Harbor New York from 1814-1832. The detailed carv...

We are delighted to offer for sale this original Victorian games compendium with a complete suite of games This is a very well made and c...

Vintage set of bocce balls 1 large, 7 small, 4 croquet - 12 total vintage condition.

19th C original painted checkerboard game board.

Chess and backgammon lacquered wood board. China, late 19th century.

Parcheesi Gameboard America, 1890 Hand painted antique Parcheesi board. 15.75"w x 1"d x 15.75"h Ref. O2251

Late 19th century hand made and decoratively painted game board, circa 1890s to 1910, a checker or chess board with squares individually hand painted with miniature watercolor portra...

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...

Italian Grand Tour pietra dura specimen marble chess / checkers game board, rare and ancient marble squares, Italy, 1820s

This fantastic all original paint decorated game board is in fine condition with minor end chips or marks but does not detract from its amazing beauty and condition.

PENNSYLVANIA BACKGAMMON BOARD, SIGNED "WISE" WITH IMAGES OF A WAGON WHEEL AND A STAR OF DAVID, 1850-1880 Found near the town of Milford, in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, is...

An antique inlaid folding wooden game board with backgammon and checkerboard/chess board on the reverse side. The chess board with individual inlaid boxes and a string inlay border. ...

19th C Original painted checkerboard.

There are 2 measurements to provide open and closed.This most unusual leather bound game board box in original painted surface. Closed - 14.5 8.5 3 open 17.5 15 1.5

Folk art doesn’t ask permission. It doesn’t wait for training or titles. It just appears—fully formed, utterly certain. We found this 19th-century chessboard in the estate of a seri...

Hickory Dickery Dock: Early Parker Brothers board game with great cat & mouse and tall case clock graphics, 1900. Patented in 1899 and produced in 1900, this colorful Parker Brother...

A boldly graphic American folk art game board, hand-painted in red, black, and forest green with yellow dividing lines, dating to the mid-19th century, circa 1840–1860. Constructed f...

PAINT-DECORATED "SNOWFLAKE" PARCHEESI GAMEBOARD IN CHEDDAR YELLOW & RED, circa 1885 Parcheesi game board, painted on a wooden plank with applied, molded trim. Rendered in red, whit...

COLORFUL PAINTED SHEET METAL GAME WHEEL ON A SHAPED WOODEN FRAME WITH A NICKLE-PLATED SPINNER, circa 1890-1910 Red, black, white, and green game whee...

Rare Napoleonic POW dominos casket We are proud to offer a rare example of a late 19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war (POW) hand carved set of domi...

We are proud to offer a wonderful example of a mid-19th century hand carved Prisoner of War (POW) domino set. Made from mutton bone and hand carved with a detailed and carved motif b...

Paint decorated ochre and brown double-sided game board, one side with Canadian checkers, the other with Parcheesi, Canada, circa 1890. Measures: 25 1...

Late 19th/early 20th century checkerboard with inlaid contrasting woods. Converted to wall hanging with felted reverse and hanging clip.

Very fine English early 19th Century solid burl yewwood tabletop with molded edge and scalloped sides with mahogany and sycamore compass star inlay, the who...