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  PAINT-DECORATED, 19TH CENTURY, RACEHORSE GAME WHEEL WITH CAST ZINC HORSES AND EXCEPTIONAL, ORIGINAL SURFACE, circa 1880-90
Dimensions (inches): 24" diameter (upper tier only, or 29 " with lower tier added)
Description:
Paint-decorated, American game wheel, made of wood, in two tiers, with ten cast zinc racehorses. The top tier consists of a circular field, divided into triangular fields, painted in red, black, and kelly green, separated by gold stripes, numbered 1-10 in black numerals, with gold outlines. Along the perimeter, beyond metal pins, are bright yellow numbers in a mix of 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, and 7’s. The center is decorated with concentric rings of the same yellow, black, red, gold, and salmon.

The lower tier is natural wood, with a kelly green border, from which extends a brass post with a leather flapper. Painted in yellow with black decorated squiggles, is a notation that reads “2, 3, and 4 Pay Double,” followed by “7 straight.” Technically, this is a table-top board, but the construction allows for easy display on a wall. The two tiers are connected by a cast brass post with incorporated fittings that allow it to be quickly disassembled, as well as for the top tier to easily be mounted to a vertical surface.

I elect to display the top tier only, which is simply exceptional on its own. Not only are the colors and graphics wonderful, but the painted surface is a 10-out-of-10, and simply as good as it gets in the world of American folk art and paint-decorated objects. The painted, three dimensional figures add their own measure to the board. The brass fittings are all top-notch. All-in-all, one of the best examples with a horse theme that I have ever encountered.

Condition: Minor paint loss on horses. Three tails absent.
   
Primary Color: red, green, black, yellow
Earliest Date: 1880
Latest Date: 1890
For Sale Status: Available
Price Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281
E-mail: info@jeffbridgman.com
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