Piece for the game of chaupar
On display
Chaupar or pachisi, the ancestor of the much simplified English ‘Ludo’, was one of the most popular Indian board games during the Mughal period. The emperor Akbar himself was a devotee and compelled his courtiers to play in tournaments which could last for months. The game was most often played by four players, each racing a set of four coloured pieces around a cruciform board according to the throw of dice. This full set of sixteen pieces is painted with courtly scenes, including princes on horseback and riding elephants, camels or chariots. It was evidently made for a royal court in Rajasthan, possibly Udaipur.
Details
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Title
Piece for the game of chaupar
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Associated place
Rajasthan (place of creation) -
Date
2nd half of the 18th century -
Material and technique
ivory, carved, with black and gold pigment, and lacquer
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Material index
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Object type
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Dimensions
2.9 cm max. (height)
2.8 cm max. (diameter) -
No. of items
1
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Credit line
Purchased, 1967.
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Museum location
First floor | Gallery 33 | Mughal India -
Museum department
Eastern Art
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Accession no.
EA1967.202.g
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Glossary of terms
lacquer
