Chinese game board

I would appreciate your help with identifying design, construction quality and age of this intarsia board.
Thanks

 

Backgammon/Chess/Checkers folding set made of lacquer inlaid with mother of pearl - can remember seeing them come back with Vietnam War soldiers, suspect they picked them up on R&R in Hong Kong or Singapore, but were probably in production a bit before and after that era. Should have the game pieces with it, and it's fairly low quality for that type of work - thin lacquer over rough wood, carelessly done MOP insets, flimsy hinges and latches (it's still kind of pretty though)...

~Cheryl

 

[QUOTE=", carelessly done MOP insets, (it's still kind of pretty though)...

~Cheryl[/QUOTE]
You must be joking

 

In my opinion it is in bad shape, but MOP inlay is exquisite.
Dont you see delicate figures and whole scenes?

 

I am not joking, your pictures are quite clear, and in my opinion, which was asked for, the lacquer work is low quality. The mother of pearl inlays are awkwardly cut from shell with dark areas rather than all white, the engraving clumsy in execution, and the inlay set in poorly, with the metal parts of similar low quality. It is what it is, still attractive and probably has a bit of value too - but a simple internet search will show you what fine and average quality MOP inlaid lacquer work looks like...

~Cheryl

 

Thanks Cheryl.
I did do abit of searching and my findings counter your oppinion.

 

I have to agree with Cheryl. Although it is a pretty board, it is lacking in quality workmanship.

Here is your bat - no detail to the face, the wings are poorly proportioned.


your place markers



From a live auction

Notice how well the face, wings and coins are done compared to yours.




https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/23274667_vietnamese-mop-inlay-lacquer-double-game-set

The difference in quality is quite noticeable, sorry.

 

You must be joking[/QUOTE]

How about this.....
Your board is very nice and a lot of work went into it...

but as Clutter has shown , there are other boards of the same design out there , showing far superior workmanship, fit and finish !

 

You can always say there is something bettere than something else, because there is.
I didnt say this piece was the best.
Photos shown do not show much detail, but you can see that it has been polished, and you can see bad quality of wood and lacquer. So I dont see this as being better than.
Also Komokwa you can compare only same things. Same size, same detail and same age. Something older 20 years is bound to look worse than the newer one.

 

Something older 20 years is bound to look worse than the newer one.

that's not true ...in any thing.

 

The other board is indeed a bit better in quality of workmanship, but it is still not particularly fine work - there is nothing wrong with either one, they just simply are what they are. The two boards shown are of the same ilk, it's a fair comparison - yours is the less well made of the two, and neither show great quality in their lacquer or inlay work - in comparison to really well done work, your item is not even close to 'exquisite', but if it is in your eyes then that's fine, enjoy it.

Your statement regarding comparisons makes no sense to me, it's like saying you can't compare a Rolex to a Timex even though they're both watches - no disrespect to the Timex, but the regardless of size, detail and age, the Rolex will be the finer, more desirable timepiece. In handcrafted pieces like yours, one looks at the quality of construction, design and execution - your piece, in comparison to items made in the same materials, using the same techniques, is of fairly low quality, and it's evident from your pictures.

~Cheryl

 

Sorry but I have spent my fair share of time around mother of pearl inlays from antiques to guitars and on and on and this craftsmanship is not exquisite. It's amateur at best. You dont have to take offense to others opinions on the matter unless you made this yourself and are looking for approval.

 

I appreciate you taking time to comment on this thread and share your knowledge.
I believe you and appreciate it.
I welcome all comments when I ask for them, good or bad. I just like oppinions to be as subjective as possible and as sustantiated as possible.
No hard feelings on my side.