Late Georgian or Early Victorian English Cribbage Board, c.1830s

Antiques : Cribbage Boards : English

 

Gorgeous English cribbage board made of mahogany, with alternating ebony and boxwood inlays on the streets and end holes. The seller to me dated the board “early 19th century.” I think it is late Georgian or early Victorian, and have dated it accordingly.

The workmanship on this board is very beautiful. The end holes are rimmed with “eyelet” inlays that appear to me to be ivory. There is a metal (perhaps pewter, conceivably silver) inlay in the center panel with the initials M.D., suggesting the board was specially commissioned. The board sits on four walnut feet that are almost certainly original, and are secure to the board. Finally, this board has the finest peg compartment that I have ever seen on any cribbage board. It is hinged, with a wood lid, and the lid itself is veneered with a material that is a hard “shell” texture. The lid is held in place with an arrow shaped metal piece. It is a small board -- to my eyes wonderfully proportioned -- measuring 9.1” in length by 2.0” in width, and, including its feet, .8” high.

The board was sold to me without pegs. Antique English boards are frequently sold with bone/ivory pegs, and occasionally, the claim is made that they are “original.” Frankly, I doubt very much that bone/ivory pegs were “originally” sold with 19th century English treen cribbage boards, and don’t know how a claim could ever be made that any set of pegs is “original” to a cribbage board that is 150+ years old. In most cases, when antique English boards have been sold to me with bone/ivory pegs, they have not fit the holes at all and are unplayable. With reference to this board, I have many bone/ivory pegs that I have accumulated over the years, and there are none that come close to fitting. Accordingly, I have decided to supply contemporary metal pegs (2 black, 2 copper) that fit quite well and could be used to play a game of cribbage on this board, if one were so inclined. I recognize that they are not “in keeping.”

The condition of this board is remarkable. There are a few slight scratches to the surface, and a few bumps to the perimeter of the playing surface, but that’s it. No loss of inlay. No damage to the feet. And the wonderful peg compartment is completely secure – “as new” at the hinges and fully functioning.

I have very mixed feelings about selling this board. It is special.

Thanks for visiting.

Item ID: T0000326