Tableman
ca. 1130 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The figure style of the pieces, with angular profiles, simply drawn facial features, hair depicted with parallel lines, and with animated, dancing poses, is most closely paralleled by English works of about 1120-1140. The calendar roundels and historical initials of the St Albans Psaltar of around 1130 are particularly close in style and some display the same type of beaded border decoration as on the tablemen. The connection with St Martin is not necessarily of relevance for the place of production as this particular saint had widespread appeal.
This piece clearly belongs to an ensemble of over thirty stylistically related gaming pieces, usually with either beaded - as here - or channelled borders. The present piece may have come from the same set of three other discs in St Petersburg, Basel and Oxford, which share the same beaded borders, dimensions and figure style.
The only medieval gamesboard to survive is for backgammon, and was found recently during excavations in Gloucester with a complete set of thirty pieces. Backgammon appears to have been a favourite game amongst the nobility and game sets were taken on the Crusades. Interest in the game may even have been stimulated at this period because of the contact with the East where it was very popular.
This piece clearly belongs to an ensemble of over thirty stylistically related gaming pieces, usually with either beaded - as here - or channelled borders. The present piece may have come from the same set of three other discs in St Petersburg, Basel and Oxford, which share the same beaded borders, dimensions and figure style.
The only medieval gamesboard to survive is for backgammon, and was found recently during excavations in Gloucester with a complete set of thirty pieces. Backgammon appears to have been a favourite game amongst the nobility and game sets were taken on the Crusades. Interest in the game may even have been stimulated at this period because of the contact with the East where it was very popular.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Walrus ivory carved in high relief |
| Brief description | Tableman, walrus ivory, depicting a couple playing backgammon, ca. 1130, probably England, possibly St Albans |
| Physical description | Tableman or backgammon piece in Walrus ivory with carving in high relief of a group of people, two of whom are playing at draughts or a similar game such as backgammon. A woman and a man are shown seated facing one another, their feet on a pierced dais, with a board on their knees. The man wears a low crown on his head and is seated on a throne with an animal / fish head. Behind the couple are two further figures on each side who confront one another apparently in dispute, and behind them are two indeterminate structures. The border is made up of small raised circles. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | In the Soltykoff collection, Paris, until 1861; Soltykoff sale, Paris, bought by Beurdeley); on loan to the museum by John Webb from 1867, purchased from Webb 1871, £5 10s. The figure style of the pieces, with angular profiles, simply drawn facial features, hair depicted with parallel lines, and with animated, dancing poses, is most closely paralleled by English works of about 1120-1140. The calendar roundels and historical initials of the St Albans Psaltar of around 1130 are particularly close in style and some display the same type of beaded border decoration as on the tablemen. The connection with St Martin is not necessarily of relevance for the place of production as this particular saint had widespread appeal. The present piece may have come from the same set of three other discs in St Petersburg, Basel and Oxford, which share the same beaded borders, dimensions and figure style. |
| Historical context | This piece clearly belongs to an ensemble of over thirty stylistically related gaming pieces, usually with either beaded - as here - or channelled borders. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The figure style of the pieces, with angular profiles, simply drawn facial features, hair depicted with parallel lines, and with animated, dancing poses, is most closely paralleled by English works of about 1120-1140. The calendar roundels and historical initials of the St Albans Psaltar of around 1130 are particularly close in style and some display the same type of beaded border decoration as on the tablemen. The connection with St Martin is not necessarily of relevance for the place of production as this particular saint had widespread appeal. This piece clearly belongs to an ensemble of over thirty stylistically related gaming pieces, usually with either beaded - as here - or channelled borders. The present piece may have come from the same set of three other discs in St Petersburg, Basel and Oxford, which share the same beaded borders, dimensions and figure style. The only medieval gamesboard to survive is for backgammon, and was found recently during excavations in Gloucester with a complete set of thirty pieces. Backgammon appears to have been a favourite game amongst the nobility and game sets were taken on the Crusades. Interest in the game may even have been stimulated at this period because of the contact with the East where it was very popular. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 375-1871 |
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| Record created | September 9, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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