China Trade, ca. 19th century. Exquisite set of 72 bespoke Chinese hand-etched mother-of-pearl gaming chips. Etched in minute detail, each is a unique work of art depicting different scenes in diverse settings, featuring artisans, musicians, monks, geishas, and others engaged in various activities, from selling fish to playing music. On the reverse side is the coat of arms from the family who commissioned the carving of the tokens, emblazoned with the arm of a knight wielding a sword and flanked by an alternating border of various animals and structures. The rare game pieces are hand-carved from large luminous pieces of mother of pearl, each fashioned with serrated edges and etched with intricate Greek key motif borders. An extraordinary and rare set of nineteenth century gambling chips.



MEASUREMENTS

Length of each chip: 2 3/4 inches / 7 cm


SHIPPING

$20 flat-rate shipping in the continental U.S. (insurance additional). International buyers please contact for estimate. Please note: We subsidize shipping for our valued customers by packing most items in-house, offering flat rate shipping at a fraction of what third party shippers often charge. However, please be aware that we are a small operation and shipping your purchase may take several days. We appreciate your patience.

Overall excellent condition, several with very minor chips and discolorations.