Folksy Handmade Parcheesi and Checkers Board

Circa 1880s: Measuring 17 3/8" x 17 5/8", this charming three color double sided Parcheesi and Checkers gameboard with square nail construction has fantastic folk art allure. When we go out hunting for great antique gameboards, we look for three main things: original suface, good honest wear, and visual appeal. This board has them all. The surface exhibits the proper minute crazing for its 19th century vintage, and the spectacular wear on the corner blocks could only have happened from playing literally thousands of games. Obviously, the person who made this board absolutely loved to play Parcheeesi. However, what is most enchanting about this board is its freehand decoration. Note that the anonymous maker has scripted the word HOME in all capital letters and enclosed it in parentheses in order to accentuate the square's importance. The word is not centered in either direction, which shows us that the maker was more concerned with the word and its fancy script than with its placement within the central square. Notice, too, that the mustard lines are also drawn without the assistance of a ruler, giving the pathways a subtle undulation and showcasing both the board's utilitarian function and the maker's innocent naivete.