A FINE & VERY RARE NAPOLEONIC, 'PRISONER OF WAR'  "SCRIMSHAW" 36 PIECE, MINIATURE, BONE, DOMINOE SET.
(An unusual 'Double 7' Set)

This lovely set, carved and hand made in bone, actually originated in Plymouth many years ago. It was made by a French Prisoner of War, (almost certainly by or for a Naval Officer, by a skilled sailor, carpenter or sailmaker) on Drake's Island, Plymouth c,1793-1806.
A lovely item (with only two tiles missing, 0/6 and 2/4.)

This is not bad when you consider this is almost 220 years old. The box is single dovetail jointed at the corners and further re-enforced with tiny metal pins.  
 
Made with equisite care, precision and attention to detail, this is a sheer delight and is a "must have" item for the serious scrimshaw collector or addicted dominoe enthusiast or games historian.

The  overall dimentions of this quite extraordinary piece of human patience
are:
3" x 1.5" x 1" 
( 9cm x 3.5cm x 2.6cm)
with each tile 17mm x 11mm x 5mm.

The original owner of this set was almost certainly a member of the upper ranks of French society as the wonderful yet simple rendering of the portaiture of his wife on the inner cover show them wearing a feathered Drum Hat, and a child's felt hat. They are further attired in the long high class fashionable dresses of the day. When sliding back the outer cover of the set, their's would be the faces he would see and no doubt long to be with after the war was over.   

I can't help wondering just who he was !

A REAL "ONE OFF" BOUND FOR THE FINEST COLLECTION.

£1150