This backgammon board of amber is made in Königsberg in ca. 1608-1647. A comparison with similar gamesboards suggests that originally amber was originally inlaid on the external as well as the internal surfaces; the outer decoration is now lost. Gamesboards such as this were produced in Königsberg (then in Prussia), as well as in other Baltic cities. The myth of Phaeton depicted here in one of the small reliefs is eminently suitable for an amber piece. In Ovid's version of the story, Phaeton was the son Apollo, the sun-god, whom he asked to drive his chariot of the sun across the heavens. Apollo yielded and Phaeton was too weak to check the horses, and plunged so near to earth that he almost set it on fire. Zeus therefore had to kill him with a flash of lightning, so that he fell into the river Eridanus. His mourning sisters wept so much that they were metamorphosed into poplars, and their tears turned into amber.
Physical description
Backgammon board, amber on ebonised wood support with metal hinges. The plain wood on the outer faces of this gamesboard is a later restoration. The open board reveals a rich display of clear amber, and ovals at the centre of each of the inner upright edges, depicting profile heads of classical warriors. The points and the border surrounds are painted with designs of arabesques and grotesques.
In the centre of the two tables are six pierced white amber reliefs set in horn, or perhaps foil painted black; these show six scenes from the myth of Phaethon. They show: Phaeton approaching Apollo, Phaeton driving the chariot Phaeton plunging to his death, Phaeton's sisters.
The raised borders of the board are decorated scenes from Ovid's Metamorphoses: Perseus beheading Medusa, Apollo and Daphne, Pluto and Proserpine, Meleager and Atlanta, the birth of Adonis and Apollo killing Python.
The seven virtues are represented at seven of the corners, the eighth being occupied by an unidentified female figure.
Place of Origin
Königsburg, Russia (made)
Date
ca. 1608-1647 (made)
1968 (restored)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Amber on ebonised wood support with metal hinges
Dimensions
Length: 31 cm, Width: 61.9 cm open, Depth: 3.5 cm
Object history note
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A.
Historical significance: A comparison with similar gamesboards suggests that originally amber was inlaid outside as well as inside. Gamesboards such as this were particularly produced in Königsberg.
Descriptive line
Backgammon board, amber on ebonised wood, depicting scenes from the myth of Phaethon, Königsberg, ca. 1608-1647
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Trusted, Marjorie. Catalogue of European Ambers in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985, no. 2
Kappel, Jutta, Bernsteinkunst aus dem Grünen Gewölbe, Dresden, 2005, p. 96
Exhibition History
Amber, a Window to the Past (American Museum of Natural History 09/02/1996-02/09/1996)
Labels and date
BACKGAMMON BOARD
German (Königsberg); about 1608-1647
Amber on ebonised wood support with metal hinges
This backgammon board is an example of one of the most popular secular objects for which amber was used. The scenes shown in the centre are from the Greek myth of Phaethon, and the profile heads around the edges depict classical warriors.
[1993 - 2011]
Materials
Metal; Amber; Ebonized wood
Subjects depicted
Arabesques; Grotesques; Apollo; Pan; Silenus; Midas; Phaethon
Categories
Sculpture; Myths & Legends; Games
Collection code
SCP
