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  BLUE & YELLOW "SNOWFLAKE" PARCHEESI GAMEBOARD, CA 1885
Dimensions (inches): 17.25" square x .75" deep
Description:
Parcheesi game board, painted on a wooden plank with applied, molded trim. Rendered in cheddar yellow with deep blue and white, this is one of a group of known, 19th century game boards, thought to hail from New England, that were either made in a cottage industry setting or by an independent craftsman. They are collectively known as “snowflake boards” among some game board collectors, due to the white, 6-pointed, snowflake-shaped stars that appear in its center. A little more star-like than on other examples I have handled, this element is common to the others, some of which have more incorporated into the overall design and all of which are accompanied by a significant complement of polka dots.

I have been privileged to own three other boards from this maker over the years, including one in deep, burgundy red and smaller than the others, one in orange and blue, and a third in the same colors seen here, though with a different layout, blue polka-dots, different corner elements, and employing 5-pointed snowflake-stars instead of a 6-pointed style. Like this board, that example had a grid of black checkers on the reverse, but this incorporates blue outlines where the other did not.

It is very likely that the maker of these game boards also made other wooden items that he or she painted in like fashion. Likely their foremost employment was as a carriage or sign painter, probably the former, and their income was supplemented by supplying toy shops. Whatever the case may be, they are unusual and whimsical, academically intriguing, and a terrific addition to any advanced game board collection. Condition: There are minor chips, splits, and paint loss, but the overall condition is excellent for the period.
   
Primary Color: yellow, blue, white
Earliest Date: 1885
Latest Date: 1890
For Sale Status: Sold
Price SOLD
E-mail: info@jeffbridgman.com
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