19th C American Marbleized Slate Chess Board in Walnut Frame, C. 1880

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beautifully decorative late 19th-century American chess/game board, crafted in painted slate with a rich marbleized faux-stone ground and an elegant … Read more beautifully decorative late 19th-century American chess/game board, crafted in painted slate with a rich marbleized faux-stone ground and an elegant walnut frame. The central playing field is detailed in black and gilt with ornamental corner flourishes and stylized patterned squares, giving it the presence of a small architectural panel as much as a game surface. Equally striking styled flat on a table or layered into a library or game room vignette, it offers that rare mix of graphic impact, patina, and period character. Circa 1870s–1890s.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE
Decorative slate game boards like this were popular in late 19th-century American parlors, where games were as much part of the room’s design as they were entertainment. The marbleized (faux stone) painted ground and gilt ornamental borderwork give this example the feel of an architectural panel—meant to be displayed and admired even when not in use. Pieces with this level of decorative painting and strong graphic presence are increasingly hard to find in the market today.

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