Americana Double Sided Parcheesi Game Board and Chess, New England 1885

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The Parcheesi game board, American, circa 1885, features a wonderfully crude yet charming design, painted on a 19 3/4” wide, … Read more The Parcheesi game board, American, circa 1885, features a wonderfully crude yet charming design, painted on a 19 3/4” wide, single-plank solid walnut surface. The board, a make-do creation, reveals the rustic ingenuity and raw craftsmanship of its time.

The polychrome surface is a vibrant riot of colors, though the palette is far from refined. The hues—red, Black and Tan - are applied with a broad, almost reckless hand, giving the game board a playful, almost folk-art quality. Each color is layered thickly, contributing to a rough yet appealing texture, as if the paint itself is infused with the warmth of the wood beneath it.

The board’s edges are irregular, a clear result of the handmade nature of the piece. The solid walnut, dark and slightly weathered, holds a natural grain that peeks through the color in places, offering a rustic contrast to the bold painted areas. The game grid, where the familiar Parcheesi tracks are drawn, is outlined with uneven, freehand lines that seem more purposeful in their imperfection than accidental.

Provenance: From a prominent American Collector See less