Maker Unknown.
Six antique mother-of-pearl fish-shaped gaming tokens, sold separately - each hand-carved and naturally luminous with the soft, silvery quality of nacre. Originally made in China for the Western export market, mother-of-pearl gaming counters were produced from around the 18th century into the early 19th century, when card games such as Pope Joan, Ombre and Quadrille were fashionable in Europe. They were used for keeping score and bidding, with fish-shaped examples among the earlier forms of these beautifully made game pieces.
Made by Cantonese craftsmen from the nacre of large oyster shells, these little counters combine the practical with the decorative. Their fish shapes and hand-carved details make them particularly charming today — small remnants of a time when even something as simple as a gaming token could be carefully made and beautifully considered.
A set of six to keep together, or purchase separately - could be worn as a necklace, scattered across a tabletop to recreate their provenance, or simply enjoy as tiny pieces of history.
Materials: Mother of Pearl (Nacre).
Size: Assorted, ranging from 4cm–6cm in length.
Quantity: 6 unique antique fish-shaped gaming tokens.
Condition: Antique pieces with natural variations and signs of age and previous use.
Shipping: Orders will be dispatched within 3 working days of the order being placed; delivery times will vary.
Maker Unknown.
Six antique mother-of-pearl fish-shaped gaming tokens, sold separately - each hand-carved and naturally luminous with the soft, silvery quality of nacre. Originally made in China for the Western export market, mother-of-pearl gaming counters were produced from around the 18th century into the early 19th century, when card games such as Pope Joan, Ombre and Quadrille were fashionable in Europe. They were used for keeping score and bidding, with fish-shaped examples among the earlier forms of these beautifully made game pieces.
Made by Cantonese craftsmen from the nacre of large oyster shells, these little counters combine the practical with the decorative. Their fish shapes and hand-carved details make them particularly charming today — small remnants of a time when even something as simple as a gaming token could be carefully made and beautifully considered.
A set of six to keep together, or purchase separately - could be worn as a necklace, scattered across a tabletop to recreate their provenance, or simply enjoy as tiny pieces of history.
Materials: Mother of Pearl (Nacre).
Size: Assorted, ranging from 4cm–6cm in length.
Quantity: 6 unique antique fish-shaped gaming tokens.
Condition: Antique pieces with natural variations and signs of age and previous use.
Shipping: Orders will be dispatched within 3 working days of the order being placed; delivery times will vary.
