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  19TH CENTURY AMERICAN PARCHEESI BOARD IN SIX COLORS, WITH BOLD YELLOW FLOWERS IN EACH CORNER AND FANTASTIC, CRYSTALLIZED SURFACE, CA 1870-90
Dimensions (inches): 25" x 25" (35" x 35" on the diagonal) x .75" deep
Description:
19th century American Parcheesi game board with six colors, great graphics, huge scale, and the best, crystallized surface that one could wish for. Made ca 1870-1890, the crazed varnish almost appears sugar-coated from the granular way in which it raised into pinpoints.

At approximately 25" square, the size dwarfs most examples, which lends strong presentation. The background is dark, brick red, which contrasts nicely with the T-shaped, yellow portions of the track. These intersect in a central square that has been decorated on the interior with a scalloped edge, rendered in metallic bronze, with oxblood red polka dots. In each corner are whimsical, yellow, foliage-like sprays, typical of carriage-style painting. These are repeated in the outermost corners of the board, separated by long lines of polka dots, within a blue-painted border that has darkened to green with the passage of time and aging of the varnish.

The best feature, however, is the large, stenciled and hand-painted flowers, which are yellow, artfully shaded with orange highlights. These are not metallic, like the bronze scallops. With profiles that resemble dogwood (with 5 petals instead of 4) or primrose, their strong design is derived from the fact that they are modern and intense as opposed to frilly.

Black lines were used to separate spaces on the track and there is an applied, black-painted molding around the outer edge. The construction of the playing surface is two pine or poplar planks. The reverse has a very simple rendition of checkers in brick red and yellow, separated by blue striping, with a brick red border.

Condition: Excellent, with only tiny areas of paint loss, wear on the outer edges, and the possible addition of a couple of fine finishing nails. There is no paint restoration whatsoever.
   
Primary Color: brick red, yellow, green
Earliest Date: 1870
Latest Date: 1890
For Sale Status: Available
Price SOLD
E-mail: info@jeffbridgman.com
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