Cribbage Board Collection part 3

Above: two-player flat board. From the collection of Tony Hall.

A “shed-work” board offers a further variation in design which I have never seen elsewhere. This was made in an era (1930s, 40s and 50s) when men and women made things at home rather than bought expensive versions. Not to be too sexist about it, but women had sewing machines and made clothes and domestic fabric items; men had sheds and made things out of wood and metal. Many such men would be earning their living using the same skills, so the quality of some of the so-called “shed work” can be difficult to identify as such.

Above: home-made “shed-work” cribbage set. This one has more obviously seen the inside of a shed! From the collection of Tony Hall.

Each of my double board collection caters for only two players, whereas triangular boards are obviously designed for three players.

Above: this is the oldest, probably late Victorian; others are more recent. The solid one (right) is smaller but highly decorated and almost certainly comes from India. From the collection of Tony Hall.

Above: I have one flat board designed for three players, but they are unusual. From the collection of Tony Hall.

Above: a significant variant of the flat wooden board is the flat board with a third track on a pivot for the three player game. From the collection of Tony Hall.

Above: a “shed-worker” probably produced this to accommodate a second friend! From the collection of Tony Hall.

Above: a beautiful and tactile example of the cabinet-maker’s skill being applied to a cribbage board. From the collection of Tony Hall.