German, mid-19th century

the interior with backgammon board intricately inlaid with ebony and ivory scrolls, the exterior on the back with nine men's morris, the front applied on the border with painted porcelain plaques enclosing views of Dresden, Dresden masterpieces and interiors of theatres as well as the oval portrait of a nobleman with with his coat of arms and the motto Toujours Firme, the chequered board enclosing daguerrotype portraits and inlaid coats of arms, with 15 ivory and 15 ebony turned rosette-shaped chess pieces (31)

This intriguing games board was undoubtedly made as a special commission in the 1860's or 70's. The porcelain plaques enclose views of the Zwinger palace, the Frauenkirche, the Altstadt upstream of Carola bridge and a view from the Marien Bridge looking towards the Augustus bridge, the Frauenkirche as well as what is probably Schloss Pillnitz by the Elbe. Also included are views of the Semper Opera House as well as two of Dresden's masterpieces the Sistine Madonna by Raphael and a detail of the Schokolademädchen by Jean-Etienne Liotard. It has been suggested that the interior is earlier, perhaps c. 1600, and reworked in the 19th century.

The inclusion of daguerrotype miniatures on a games board is also revolutionary; they undoubtedly portray the holders of the armorials included, many of which have been identified: Barons Schleinitz of Saxony, Prussia and Austria, Feilitzsch of Bavaria and Saxony, Fruttingen of Austria and Ziegler-Klippenhausen-Dambrau of Saxony and Sileni.