My description is quite lengthy and thorough because I feel this is an important piece of museum quality antiquity and significance; worthy of preserving and maintaining for collectors of games, and also to better understand the Victorian lifestyle.
This is a scarce, hard to find (especially complete and original) games box, with various game playing choices. The Victorian era compendium of games is ingeniously enclosed and compartmentalized in the original late 19th century larger size mahogany wooden box, with bold brass bound mounts and key hole escutcheon.
After opening the front (it drops down—see images), and then removing the “two sided” wooden hand painted games board, which is made for playing chess and checkers on one side (drafts in England), and Muhle on the other side; you then open the sides of the box which “hinges” outwards to expose game pieces in various compartment areas, including in the middle section. Super rare to find this piece; even more scarce to have the original pieces to the games.
The games box was made for the aristocracy and used either in the parlor or for travel amusement on long journeys overland or by train. There once was a key but it is no longer extant which is probably a good thing, as if one were to get locked out, extensive damage would occur trying to get back in. Do not hold the box by the handles; carry and hold from the bottom so that the front does not open. Please see the video I have prepared which shows how the box opens and closes (upon request).
The entire piece is in excellent and completely original condition, both to the box and the interior games articles. with no repairs or restoration.
The maker is not apparent, although I would suggest British manufacture including hand carved wooden chess and checker pieces; the rare and desirable sets of cards are of Austrian maker—The Piantik game company (founded in 1824), and Joseph Glanz.
There is a double sided game board made of walnut and inlaid satinwood; a fitted interior holds wooden hand carved chess pieces in ebony and brown. There are more than enough required checkers (17 wooden hand carved in tan, and 18 in black). The other side of the wooden games board is for a popular Medieval game called Muhle (some versions of this game, also called “Nine Man Morris” date back to the Roman Empire and earlier).. It is a two person game; the idea is to get three pieces lined up in a row while preventing your opponent from doing the same (use checkers for this game).
Another compartment holds 46 dominoes, which are hand made out of black walnut and some kind of bone. There are five dice (die), perhaps to allow for five players..
There are four lidded walnut boxes with fancy brass handles and escutcheons; each box on top representing a suit of cards; spades, clubs, diamonds and hearts. The interior stores different colored games pieces in red, yellow, purple and green. I do not know what these are for (see images).
There are four hand carved trays; I guess to hold the money (coins) for gambling. A small pencil and a chalk pencil is included along with a chalk board (presumably to keep score).
The box with fitted interior and it’s contents are very substantial at 14″ wide x 8″ deep x 9″ high (closed) and weighing in at 12 pounds. I have seen the smaller version of this a couple of times over the years but not this comprehensive oversized example which I would think is much more sought after with more games and larger pieces.
The two decks of Victorian era cards are extra special, being of Austrian manufacture and by the world renowned Piatnik game and card making company of Vienna (started business in 1824 and they are still in business).
Research reveals that one set (with cream colored backing) was made in the 1890’s while the other set (blue colored backing) was produced circa 1882. They are called “Tarock Cards” German name, or Tarot Cartes in French. Their genesis are trick and magic making games and fortune telling, dating back to the 14th and 15th century in Europe. Cartomancy was a form of Tarot Cards (fortune telling).; they had 52 cards plus a Joker, while Tarot cards had 54 or 78 so I am not clear whether one set is for cartomancy and complete, or for tarot and missing one card ( cream colored—see images).
The other set (blue backing) with 54 cards is for tarot and obviously complete. The blue backed cards are slightly bowed (see images) but fine to use; the cream backed cards are flat and fine.
A manual production process was used in the making of these cards; they are steel engraved and hand painted stencil coloring. These older variants are quite rare and very sought after. The images on the cream colored backed cards are quite “royal (Kings, Queens, etc,) ” and regal in subject matter. (15) of the cards are the proverbial suits plain cards while the rest (38 cards) are highly colorful and hand lithographed. Markings include;
“Ferd. Piatnik & Sohne, Wien Registrirte Schutzmarke”
“Industrie Und Gluck” (means “Diligence and Fortune”–see images).
A similar set of this set of cards is on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The other set is just as colorful and complete and was designed by Joseph Glanz as per markings. Other marks include “K K Priv Spielkanten”
Schutz Marke”
Jeder Nachdruck Vorbella”
Fabrik IV Kleinschmidgasse 3″.
Subject matter is of a more rural nature and every day life.
Dimensions: 9″ deep x 14″ wide x 9″ high (box closed)
20″ deep x 36″ wide x 14″ high (when opened completely)
Provenance: Acquired by me from an upscale San Francisco collection of games; would make an excellent addition for the discerning connoisseur collection of fine quality playthings, or as a unique stand alone featured Victorian item.
Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting antique toys, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage toys and playthings; important considering the fakes and reproductions in the marketplace
See my other listings of vintage games and toys.