Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

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Piece for the game of chauparoblique

© Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

  • Piece for the game of chaupar (oblique)
  • Piece for the game of chaupar (oblique)
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Piece for the game of chaupar

  • Description

    Chaupar or pachisi, the ancestor of the much simplified English ‘Ludo’, was one of the most popular Indian board games during the Mughal period. The emperor Akbar himself was a devotee and compelled his courtiers to play in tournaments which could last for months. The game was most often played by four players, each racing a set of four coloured pieces around a cruciform board according to the throw of dice. This full set of sixteen pieces is painted with courtly scenes, including princes on horseback and riding elephants, camels or chariots. It was evidently made for a royal court in Rajasthan, possibly Udaipur.

  • Details

    show all
    Associated place
    Asia › India › west India › Rajasthan (place of creation)
    Date
    2nd half of the 18th century
    Material and technique
    ivory, carved, with red and gold pigment, and lacquer
    Dimensions
    2.8 cm max. (height)
    2.7 cm max. (diameter)
    Material index
    organic › animal › tooth › mammal tooth › ivory,
    organic › vegetal › resin › lacquer
    Object type index
    games/sporting equipment › game › game-piece
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Purchased, 1967.
    Accession no.
    EA1967.202.o

Glossary

lacquer

  • lacquer

    Chinese and Japanese lacquer is made from the sap of the lacquer tree, which is indigenous to Eastern China. It is applied to wood as a varnish or for decorative effect. In India and the Middle East, lacquer is made from the deposit of the lac insect.

Location

    • First floor | Room 33 | Mughal India

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