Ivory domino set from the imperial age

The use of dominoes dates back to the 13th century. Their use was first documented in China and they reached Europe in the 18th century.

The set comprises a rectangular ivory box divided into 4 sections at the top. Inside are 37 dominoes and 8 dice, 2 of which feature a bird and a rooster. The box is hand-decorated with different scenes: a naval battle between the French and the British is depicted on the base, while the sides show Imperial-style portraits of ladies and gentlemen, with oval surrounds and separated by wreaths. The upper flaps depict ladies and soldiers on horseback, and the back of one of them features imagery representing Liberty.

This object was probably made by French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars, which pitted France and Spain against one another from the 1790s until the early 19th century.