the shaped lift-top with turreted corners all raised on cabriole supports with lappet carving and in pad feet; adorned overall with seaweed marquetry inlay; the hinged top supported by a gate leg opens to reveal the interior with felt top, having round inlaid corners and chip cutouts; overall good antique condition for a piece of this age; refinished surface with small areas of replaced veneer; some shrinkage; fading and wear to later felt top
the hinged circular top centering a beautifully inlaid checkboard on one side flipping to reveal an inlaid Parcheesi (Ludo) board on the reverse; raised in 4 dramatically incurved supports joined by a lower shelf fitted with a hidden compartment for game pieces; professionally refinished with minor warpage to top; Parcheesi is based on Pachisi, originated in India around the 4th century A.D. Its popularity headed west in the 1860s, first traveling to England, which had taken over rule of India from the British East India Company in 1858, and then further into Europe.
