MID 19TH CENTURY

Details

A Vizigapatum ivory and horn veneered folding games board
Mid 19th century
Exterior intended for chess, the interior for backgammon, the moulded side in the form of two leather bound book spines, silvered brass lock, engraved and lac-heighted decoration
18¼in. (46.4cm.) wide
And twenty eight Victorian turned ivory draughts pieces, stained and natural, engine turned with elliptical decoration

Special notice

This lot is subject to Collection and Storage Charges. No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Amin Jaffer, Furniture From British India and Ceylon, V&A Publications 2001.
A comparable folding games box is illustrated on page 209. fig. 53.
The earliest documented games board from Vizagapatam are those bought by Lady Clive during her 1801 visit to India, now at Powis Castle. The Vizagapatam games boards followed a standard pattern, the veneers typically ivory contrasting with horn, ebony or tortoiseshell, laid on a sandalwood carcass. These boards would have generally contained three other conforming boxes, containing chess and backgammon pieces.

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