A VERY RARE CARD AND CHESS GAMES TABLE IN ORIENTAL STYLE, VIENNA 1880s

Wood with marquetry work, bone, various fruit and precious woods, brass, containers, cards, wooden card press and more accessories
Austria, 1880s

This elaborate multi-functional games table is made in oriental style, which was highly fashionable in Europe at the period. The table top is inlaid as a chess and backgammon board and can be unfolded, revealing a card table with brass insets for chips, reserves where the four included candleholders can be screwed in and a felt mat.

Underneath the tabletop is a drawer which can be pulled out to one side only. It holds various accessories such as a felt brush, four containers for chips, a wooden card press, a complete set of chess figures, complete set of backgammon stones, a complete set of domino stones a.s.o.

Everything on and in this rarity is made with much attention for detail and highest craftsmanship quality – the marquetry inlay work, the carved wooden ornaments, the brass candleholders and even the stag antler play stones or the card containers that bear little enamel signs.

Dimensions: height is 78 cm, table top when used for chess measures 60 x 60 cm, when unfolded as cards table the tabletop measures 84 x 84 cm
Condition: in excellent condition with usual traces of wear and age, small scratches to lacquer varnish on tabletop, one small wooden ornament missing
Provenance: Austrian private collection