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Games box

Games box

  • Place of origin:

    Mysore, India (made)

  • Date:

    1825-1850 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Rosewood, inlaid with ivory, with brass mounts

  • Museum number:

    06409(IS)

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

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This games box originated at the court of the Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar III. He was ruler of Mysore from 1794 to 1868 and a skilful games player. His abiding interest in the board games of his own country led him to develop both variations of existing games and entirely new ones. The 11 games in this box vary from complicated to very simple. The inlays suggest that the box was originally issued with ornate pieces that were kept in the two storage drawers.

Physical description

Games box, blackwood, inlaid with ivory, with lacqured brass mounts. The box has a draw for games pieces and fold out sections on the top to accomodate different games.

Place of Origin

Mysore, India (made)

Date

1825-1850 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Rosewood, inlaid with ivory, with brass mounts

Dimensions

Height: 17.5 cm, Width: 36 cm, Depth: 36 cm

Object history note

This compendium of games is cleverly designed to accomodate four different South Indian games, with drawers for the pieces. The recessed mounts are clearly influenced by contemporary campaign furniture, which was widely used among the British in India during this period.

Descriptive line

Rosewood games box inlaid with ivory and with brass mounts, Mysore (South India), early 19th century.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Amin Jaffer, Luxury Goods From India: the art of the Indian Cabinet-Maker, London : V&A, 2002, pp. 104-105, ill. ISBN: 1 85177 381 9. Jaffer, A. Furniture from British India and Ceylon: a catalogue of the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2001. ISBN 1 85177 318 5.p.161, pl.25
Jaffer, Amin, 'The Furniture of Play : Games Boards and Boxes in India' in Topsfield, Andrew (ed), 'The Art of Play : Board and Card Games of India', Mumbai, Marg Publications, 2006. pp.128-9 and 134-5.

Exhibition History

'Maharaja; The Splendour of India's Royal Courts' (Victoria and Albert Museum 10/10/2009-17/01/2010)
'Maharaja; The Splendour of India's Royal Courts'

Categories

Games

Collection code

SSEA

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Qr_O40241
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