Game On!
Photography: Timothy Thimmes
Checkers, chess, Parcheesi and backgammon have long provided friendly afternoon and candlelit evening entertainment for Park City folks. In the early days when small towns consisted of little more than a general store, many game boards were made at home, or in the case of special commissions, handcrafted by talented sign painters and professional artists. Today, these are the game boards that quicken the pulse of folk art collectors and interior designers who appreciate the antiques for their colorful painted surfaces, well-worn patina, graphic appeal and hand-drawn designs.
Few of these game boards are actually used for games now — rather they adorn walls singly or in groups. Game board collectors confess to an addictive passion for finding them and are willing to spend huge sums on rarities. Fans not willing to pay the price of original boards turn to more affordable reproductions that strive to achieve the weathered look of a board that might have turned up years earlier in an old barn or attic.
A: When collectors find an old Parcheesi board with the word “HOME” in the middle, they have hit the jackpot. The interesting graphic designs let the best of them cross over into the realm of modern paintings. For those who want to add a cozy touch to a study or den, “Home” says it all!
B: Whoever painted this checkerboard on a piece of pinewood used a thin coat of a milk-based paint, and then thoughtfully preserved it from future scratches by covering it with glass and framing it. The carefully carved hearts in each corner of the frame suggesting a romantic game for two might have been the intention of the maker. Some imaginative craftsmen have fashioned interesting game boards using old wooden picture moldings. This piece was found in Utah at an antique fair.
C: This 19th century reversible backgammon-chess board is painted in shades of blue milk-paint with a hand-rubbed finish. Its heavily distressed appearance speaks to many years of use. This board was found at a tag sale in Connecticut.
D: Hearts again show up as an important decorative element in this old game board along with the encircled stars and diamonds often seen on old barns. Hearts and stars regularly appear in Pennsylvania-Dutch folk art. Discovered in Pennsylvania, this warped-over-time board was probably made from an old breadboard that had outlived its usefulness.
Wendy Lavitt is the author of six books on art and antiques.
COLLECTING ‘GAMESMANSHIP’
Look carefully at the paint. If it looks too bright and colorful, it is probably a reproduction. Homemade paints in the past were usually primary colors and natural tones rather than pastels. Crackled paint should seem naturally aged.
Check the overall patina — does it look too uniform? Wear should show around the edges and fading should be uneven in original boards. Don’t be fooled by a really cheap price on a board that is labeled an antique. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Specific informative elements such as a date or a name drawn or stenciled on a board adds value, just as appealing painted motifs such as an eagle or horse raises the ante.
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