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 is found in a secret chamber under Russian 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…