Object number
60/178
Title
Cribbage,
Description
Nothing is known of the origin of this cribbage board, used for scoring in the card game cribbage. It has a mahogany base with a brass top. The game of cribbage was developed in the early-seventeenth century.
Physical description
1 cribbage board: wood; metal; good condition
Archival history
'Object research project, Megan Cristo, February 2019 – ‘This cribbage board, made of wood and metal with a mahogany base and brass top, measures 25.5x7.5cm [length x width] and is in good condition. The card game cribbage was developed in the 17th century by Sir John Suckling, and is scored using pegs on a peg or ‘cribbage’ board such as this one. This particular board is a 60-hole cribbage board, with four rows of thirty holes separated down the middle with a panel, allowing 60 holes for each player. At the top of the board is an additional, solitary hole to peg out, used to signify a player winning the game and gaining 61 points. The two rows of nine holes at the bottom end of the cribbage board are game holes, used to track the number of wins by each player. This layout of four rows of thirty holes in a straight line is typical of a 60-hole cribbage board, whilst other more extensive, modernised versions of the game require a 120-hole cribbage board, usually with four rows of 60 holes arranged in an s-shape with the appearance of a paperclip. This combination of metal and wood is not uncommon as cribbage boards were usually mace entirely of metal or wood or a combination of the two. Modern cribbage boards are usually made entirely of wood or plastic with plastic pegs as they are cheaper to produce and purchase, whilst entirely metal boards and pegs are produced as a more luxury item.'
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Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_3264.tif - High resolution image
