A mystery at the Cleveland Museum of Art

[evansd2]

If you’re ever near Cleveland, I strongly recommend going to the Cleveland Museum of Art. It’s an incredible collection – and this is the crazy part – it’s totally free. Always. No admission fee.

I saw this amazing gaming table there, but there’s a mystery to it: What the heck did they play on that diamond-shaped side?

Full info here:

http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1953.284?collection_search_query=gaming+table&op=search&form_build_id=form-0VAwUOQJxSB5QrpVDYR4b5EgAHiszgVLMnhi_tFXdcM&form_id=clevelandart_collection_search_form

I reached out to the museum via their research request form. If I hear back, I’ll post the answer. In the meantime, anyone either know or have any guesses? It’s a German piece, from the early-mid 1700’s

[geek2nurse]

I’ll look in the game book I got from my dad when I was home in July – it looks kinda familiar. You’ll have to wait a bit, though…I’m downstairs and it’s upstairs and stairs are hard with crutches, so I have to finish my GF project first.

[evansd2]

I thought I heard a hobbling sound…

[geek2nurse]

[evansd2]

More info? How to play section? I might make myself a board …

[dwardio]

Online version can be found on this page: http://www.smartlittlegames.com

Apparently was a game-in-game in Assassins’ Creed a while back, too.

Print-n-play: http://www.cyningstan.com/download/1016/nine-mens-morris-print-and-play

[geek2nurse]

Okay, had to snap photos quick, so they’re not great–hubs has an early morning tomorrow so I needed to turn my light off. I can send better ones tomorrow.

[mnemosyne]

this is too cool. TIL.

[info3]

In Germany it is called “Mühle” and we are still playing this. It is included in almost all “Spielesammlung” (Collection of games). For an example see https://www.amazon.de/Schmidt-Spiele-49147-Spielesammlung-Möglichkeit/dp/B0007Z2OQ6/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=toys&ie=UTF8&qid=1536566177&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=spielesammlung&psc=1 .

It is easy to learn and really fun. Most of the time you can find it on the backside of a chessboard. If you find one you should try it out. Our Kids like it too. Actually this would be a nice glowforge project.

[caribis2]

It looks like a rough game seeing as you need spear bearers to make sure the other guy doesn’t cheat.

[sqw]

Looks like nine men’s morris to me. I think you could also play one of the variations of Geese and Fox too.

[evansd2]

The museum confirmed that it was indeed Morris. Thanks everyone!

[brokendrum]

museum confirmed that it was indeed Morri

Here is another.
How weird is that, coming on the heels of your question.

Medieval board game found in secret chamber under 13th century castle

[evansd2]

Coincidence… or is it something more?

_{This message definitely not brought to you by Illuminati, inc.}

[evansd2]

Turns out this was thoroughly covered…

Nine Men's Morris Board

Here’s another design I threw together over the weekend. It’s a board for playing Nine Men’s Morris. This is a game the dates back to the Roman Empire. If you don’t know about this game, you can read up on it here: Here is the board: [image] Here is the board with playing pieces on it: [image] Here are the cut files: cut3_squarepieces_onequarter.pdf (2.3 KB) cut2_base_oneeight.pdf (1.0 KB) all.pdf (8.6 KB) option_cut5_border_onequarter.pdf (1.3 KB) cut4_roundpieces_onequarter.pd…

[dwardio]

In Germany it is called “Mühle” and we are still playing this. It is included in almost all “Spielesammlung” (Collection of games).

Had to laugh – was just gifted a Spielesammlung by a friend in the local German community…