Game Die, 1840-1860

01

Artifact Overview

People have used dice to decide their fate for thousands of years. Early types of dice consisted of animal bones -- usually ankle bones -- marked with dots or "pips." This multi-faceted die from the mid-1800s is made of ivory, has over 30 sides, and uses numbers instead of pips.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Die (Game piece)

Date Made

1840-1860

Place of Creation

Creator Notes

Possibly made in England.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2000.0.15.21

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Ivory (Tooth component)

Color

Ivory (Color)
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Diameter: 1.5 in