Fissured Maple Gaming Dish
Early 19th century

Bowls (G--jih) as such were used for a traditional Woodlands game involving peach pits (Gus-ka-eh). Of the few gaming bowls or dishes known, most have breaks with period repairs, as an action of the game was to slam the bowl upon a blanket to bounce the peach pits.

A gaming dish of near identical form (also with breaks and repairs) is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, no. 81-2619. Another is illustrated in Lewis H. Morgan on Iroquois Material Culture, Tooker, p. 193-this source also describes in full the nature of game within the culture.
h. 2 3/4 in., w. 10 in.

The Peter Brams Collection

Estimate: $3,000-6,000

The Peter Brams Collection of Important Woodlands Indian Art

One side of the dish has been broken into seven or more pieces. These have been atternately glued and/or corrected with thread inserted through drill holes.