C927a153: Gaming counters
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© The Holburne Museum of Art, Bath
| Museum number | C927a153 |
| Title | Gaming counters |
| Date | Circa 1800 |
| People |
Unknown - Maker |
| Place of origin | Europe » Northern Europe » British Isles » Great Britain » England |
| Condition |
Good |
| Materials & techniques |
In categories: Animal material » Ivory Animal material » Tortoiseshell Metal » Gold Metal » Silver |
| Components | C927a153.1 C927a153.2 C927a153.3 C927a153.4 C927a153.5 |
| Description | Circular ivory screw top box. The lid is inlaid with gold piqué in a star pattern. Inside the box is lined with pink silk and pale blue velvet. It contains four tortoiseshell, gold and silver piqué counters. Each counter is inlaid with a representation of a playing card showing the Ace, two, three or four of diamonds |
| Notes | Gaming counters were used during the eighteenth century for keeping the score and as stakes in card games. They were made both in Europe and China (for export to the West) of a variety of materials including ivory, mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell. These tortoiseshell counters and the ivory box that contains them are inlaid with gold and silver in a technique known as piqué. Piqué was a popular method of decorating ivory or tortoiseshell objects during the eighteenth century. Tiny gold or silver pins (piqué point) or wire (piqué posé) are inlaid into the surface in decorative patterns. |
| Muse theme | Art and Culture in Georgian Bath 1714-1830 |
| Muse chapter |
Art and Culture in Georgian Bath 1714-1830 » Leisure » Assemblies, Dancing and Gambling
|
| Method of acquisition | Gift |
| Provenance | Miss H. S. Hope; by whom given to the Museum, 1925 |
