Putting Snakes to Work

(Above) 19th c. lithographed game board, “The Game of the Sea Serpent.”

(Above and below) 19th c. hand-forged iron door hinges.


I LIKE SNAKES. WELL, SORT OF. I am fascinated and slightly scared of them because of their reputation as slithery, poisonous or evil things. Ninety-nine percent of any story about a snake is not good. But graphically—snakes are incredible! Few creatures in the natural world give you more of an opportunity to energize a space than a snake.

Here are two examples of snakes used commercially because of their expressive form. The first is a 19th century lithographed game board which recently sold for $232.00 on eBay; and the second, a pair of 19th century iron door hinges shaped into the form of a snake. S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s!!!! Both from eBay!

Gamesmanship

(Above) Rare, Hand Painted Ring-toss Game, c. 1930s. Click image for larger view.

(Above) Pennsylvania Game Wheel With Striking Graphics, c. 1890-1900. Click image for larger view.


(Above) Parcheesi Marble Game, c. 1940s. Click image for larger view.


(Above) Oversized Primitive Checker Board With Numbers. Click image for larger view.

(Above) St. Louis Carnival Company Marble Game. Click image for larger view.

(Above) 19th Century Painted Chinese Checkers Game Board.
(Above) Carnival Penny-Pitch Board, 1930s. Click image for larger view.

(Above) Three Extraordinary Carnival Knockdown Heads. Click image for larger view.

(Above) New England Parcheesi Game Board Table (1840-1860). Click image for larger view.


EVERYONE LOVES GAMES. We played with them as children and hopefully still do as adults.

These hand made games from yesteryear were found on the Web site 1st Dibs. Enjoy.

New Math

(Above) Primitive general store nut and bolt bin with 87 drawers; c. 1900.
(Above) Hand hooked and mounted rug (shirred), found in Pennsylvania; dated 1916.


(Above) Early 20th century folky 1915 banner weathervane.


(Above) Metal 7-Up advertising sign, 1950s.

(Above) Early 20th century circus banner, 7’ 11” tall x 9’ 2” wide.

(Above) Hand pieced and hand sewn early 20th century Amish mounted crazy quilt sham, 1914.

(Above) Primitive, over sized game board, c. 1940.


NUMBERS FASCINATE ME, ALTHOUGH I WAS ALWAYS TERRIBLE AT MATH. So, whenever I see numbers incorporated into a work of art, or on an object, I take an extra look. These numerical things were found on 1st Dibs.