This is our logo heading for sales of antique playing cards and related items

MOTHER OF PEARLS GAMING COUNTERS

c1780 A full set of Mother of Pearl Gaming Counters
made for
Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Queen Consort and wife of King George III

(b19 May 1744 – d17 November 1818)
was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III.

These are three of her personal gaming counters each engraved with the Queen’s Crown over her initials “CR”, Charlotte Regina, with the Arms of England on the reverse.

She was Queen for 57 years and was an avid card player; which she played for money.

The counters have been scanned at 600dpi so you can admire the skill of the Chinese artisans of the 18th and 19th Century.

This set comprises a large oblong, a square and a round.
Purchased sets from Canton came boxed with 140 counters: 80 oblongs, 40 square and 20 rounds.

Now it is known that Queen Charlotte had two sets of counters so the maximum number of sets of three available are 40 but we also know there are 10 in the Royal Collection see Round Charlotte and Oblong Charlotte,

So this offering is for one of 30 ‘sets of 3’ available at the maximum but in reality there is no more than five or six sets surviving together.Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Queen Consort and wife of King George III

How do these counters come to be in the public domain?
Most of her collection and library was sold in 1819 for the support of her four surviving daughters. A few items were retained or bought back (by the Prince Regent);  other pieces from her collection have been
re-acquired, especially by the Queen Mary hence the holding of 10 rounds and 5 oblongs in the Royal Collection.

POSTAGE AT COST

REF: OGY 4467-060     
 

£3,000.00

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

Mother of Pearl Gaming Counter made for King Charles IV of Spain c1800

This counter was made for King Charles IV of Spain and dates from around 1800.

This counter is one from a set made exclusively for the Monarch in the artisan workshops of Canton, China.

The counters were used in the card game VOLTERETE

This counter has a central cartouche with the full arms of the King of Spain prior to 1808 (when Charles IV abdicated and went to live in France).
The arms include the motto PLUS ULTRA, a warning to would-be explorers and colonists that they ventured beyond the Straits of Gibraltar at their own peril as Spain ruled the waves.

The counter is deep-carved with Chinese scenes to the surrounding areas and is valued ‘20’ to the reverse side. The counter is 4.7cm and is nearly 5mm thick !!

The intricate carving was replicated, by hand, over 132 counters – truly amazing skills.

Postage at cost

REF: MOP-KOS      
 

£750.00

Chinese Lacquered Gaming Counter Box
with Thirty Matching Initialled Mother of Pearl Counters gaming counters.

Box is c1840s and measures 115mm x 90mm x 74mm with gold leaf decoration and blank central oval cartouche.

Box is in good condition

Box contains ten of each three shapes – Rounds 35mm – Ovals 46mm x 30mm – Shuttle 63mm x23mm

Each Counter is Initialed WAW and has a drilled border with a diaper pattern dating them c1790/1820

The counters are in good condition.

Postage at cost

REF: CBY254_053
 

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

c1855 small Chinese brocade covered box
with single cowbone catch.

The lid stamped in a red oval “SUNSHING” the box containing 50 Mother of Pearl Gaming Counters

Postage at cost

REF: MOP-SUNSHING
 

£80.00

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

Compete SET of three initialed Gaming Counters

Initialed WAW this set of three, most probably from a set of 140, 
can only produce 20 complete sets.

Postage at cost

REF:OGY4368C
 

£20.00

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

Oval Mother of Pearl Gaming Gaming Counter - c1790-1830

Oval Mother of Pearl Counter with Drilled Border. – Reverse Diaper

Monogram P – Crest Demi-Lion Rampent & Helmet

Very Good Condition

Postage at cost

REF: MOP313_16_06    

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

Shuttle Mother of Pearl Gaming Counter c1790 - 1830

Shuttle Mother of Pearl Gaming Counter c1790 – 1830

Counter has a drilled border. Monogram of P with crest of Demi-Lion & Helmet
Reverse Diaper Style
Very Good Condition

Postage at cost

REF: MOP315_16_06

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

c1820 Fretted Amorial Mother of Pearl Gaming Counter.

c1820 Fretted Amorial Mother of Pearl Gaming Counter.
Central cartouche showing Phoenix on Coronet.
Reverse shows detailed village scene.
Counter in very good condition.
5.5cm by 2.15cm

Postage at cost

REF: OGY4453 
 

£30.00

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

c1800-1830 Mother of Pearl Gaming Counter made for the Blanchard Family

A long oblong Gaming Counter made for the Blanchard Family.

Monogram: CB – Crest: Eagle Head.

Border: Geometric – Reverse: Village Scene
Very Good Condition.

Postage at cost

REF: MOP234_16     
 

£30.00

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

c1735 Early DOGS OF FOO Mother of Pearl Gaming Counter

c1735 Early DOGS OF FOO Mother of Pearl Gaming Counter

Made for the NAPIER FAMILY

The crest shows ARM & EAGLE’s LEG
Reverse: STAR

This is an extremely rare counter as the ‘dog’s jaw’ are very brittle and break easily.

This item is in very good condition.

REF: MOP4496_054   

 

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £4.45 / to Europe – £8.00 / to Other £10.95 Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00 We combine postage and only charge our costs.

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

Early, 1740/70, Square Mother of Pearl Armorial gaming counter
family name EARL OF PANMURE. 

Early, 1740/70, Square Mother of Pearl Armorial gaming counter –  
family name EARL OF PANMURE. 


The Armorial is a Double Headed Dragon blowing fire.

The crest shows a CORONET.

The reverse is Sketchy Flowers. There is no border

Counter is in very good condition.

 

SOLD

 

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £4.45 / to Europe – £8.00 / to Other £10.95 Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00 We combine postage and only charge our costs.

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

Early, c1730, Square Mother of Pearl Armorial gaming counter 
family name PERCEVAL. 

Early, c1730, Square Mother of Pearl Armorial gaming counter family name PERCEVAL. 

The Armorial is Three Crosses. The Crest is a Thistle.

There is no border and the reverse shows the Crest.

the counter is in very good condition.

REF: MOP4497  -060    
 

 

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £4.45 / to Europe – £8.00 / to Other £10.95 Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00 We combine postage and only charge our costs.

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

c1820 Square Mother of Pearl Armorial gaming counter
Family name RITCHIE. 

c1820 Square Mother of Pearl Armorial gaming counter –  Family name RITCHIE. 

The Crest is HAND & CROSS-CROSSLET.

The border is Vine & Moth and the reverse is a Village Scene.

The counter is in very good condition.

REF:MOP4498   050  
 

 

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £4.45 / to Europe – £8.00 / to Other £10.95 Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00 We combine postage and only charge our costs.

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

C1840s Four Chinese Lacquered trays
with unusual representation of English Court Cards.

Chinese export ware, typically from Canton.

Trays measure 110mm x 95mm x 20mm

Single figure Jack and Queen of Diamonds plus combination of King of Diamonds with Queen of Diamonds and Jack of Diamonds and Queen of Diamonds.

Used in games and as gaming counter trays.

All in very good condition

Postage at cost

SOLD

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

c1800 Chinese Lacquered Box with 40 Fish Counters of the same period.

This is an irregular shapes box containing 40 Fish [ Gaming ] Counters
The box is c1810 was China – laquered inside and out with gold decorated top . The sides have floral designs.
The box at it widest sides measures 9cm by 11cm – the height being 7.5cm
There are twenty Mother of Pearl Fish with Billing Birds design in the Central cartouche – sizes vary slightly but 6cm by 2cm covers it.
There are twenty bone Gaming Fish, Red Euyed – slightly varying in size – 6cm by 1cm
All items are in good condition.

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £3.70 / to Europe – £6.85 / to Other – £11.15
Insured is an additional £4.50 to any Country.
We combine postage and only charge our cost


 

SOLD

 

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

c1800 Chinese Lacquered Box with 65 Counters of the same period.

This box contains 65 Mother of Pearl Gaming Counters

The box is c1810 was China – laquered inside and out with a parlt gold decorated top . 

There are 65 Mother of Pearl – 30 oval, 30 shuttle shape and 5 rectangle.

All items are in good condition.

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £3.70 / to Europe – £6.85 / to Other – £11.15
Insured is an additional £4.50 to any Country.
We combine postage and only charge our cost

REF: B65_002

SOLD      

CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION

ADDED 24th May 2024

Chinese Box with matching Heraldic Mother of Pearl Counters

Chinese laquered box c 1860 with traditional coloured village scene.
The central catouche depicts an Heraldic symbol which also appears on each Mother of Pearl Counter above the initials of the original who commissioned the counters.
There are twn oblong counters and five rounds.
The reverse of the counters shows various ‘Village Scenes’.
All in very good condition – no damage.

REF:  CB_15c_022

 

This site is owned by –  TSSDA © Games et al 1999 – 2024 – Zen

Extract from Victor Silverstone’s Newsletter Edition Eight original research on
who actually played with the chips in 1765

Silverstone’s research took him to a diary called

“The Letters and Journals of Lady Mary Coke”.

Besides Lady Mary recording her wins and losses at cards she also included
the following extract of her acquaintance with Queen Charlotte.

”Sunday July 24th 1774
The King and Queen remained in Kew Garden all the evening,
and I fancy that Lady Litchfield was with them.

Lady Greenwich will tell you that the Duchess of Argyle plays at cards with their majesties almost every evening.
The situation of the House she is in being so convenient,
I imagine she will contrive not to go to Scotland this year. “