Product Description

A superb quality Victorian coromandel boxed games compendium. The box is wonderful quality in coromandel with gilt brass strapwork which is inset with three floral pietra dura medallions. The medallions are set with hardstones and each depicts a flora sprays including forget me nots and white roses which are indicative of weddings indicating the box might have been a marriage gift. The interior is beautifully lined in satinwood, with the lid containing a backgammon and chess board in coromandel, kingwood and ivory. The interior is fitted with a complete chess set and various counters. There is also a drawer to the front opening via a button at the back of the box. The drawer contains sections for cards and retains one dice shaker. The playing cards are unused modern Jaques replacements. The box retains the majority of the contents but there are some obvious missing pieces, including a set of backgammon counters. The whole is in excellent condition and in great original condition with a lovely patina. There has been some minor professional repair to the outside veneer which is invisible now. The drawer does retain the original retailers label of ‘J&T Forgie. Buchanan Street, Glasgow’. The box is a wonderful example of the type and one that I have never seen with pietra dura panels, it is the very height of Victorian craftsmanship. C.1870.
Overall sizes in inches:
13 wide
9 3/4 deep
7 high