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Thursday 3rd October 2024 - Sharna Bennett
An extraordinary medieval relic has been uncovered where one would least expect it—a sock drawer.
A walrus ivory gaming piece, believed to be from the 12th century, was recently discovered by a Gorringe’s valuer and is set to go under the hammer at their Interiors & Decorative Arts Sale on October 8th. This interesting piece, which will be available to bidders via Easy Live Auction, is estimated to fetch between £10,000 and £15,000.
The gaming piece, known as a tableman, would have been used in the popular medieval game of ‘tables’—an early form of backgammon. Played with 15 counters on each side, ‘tables’ was a favoured pastime among the European nobility in the 11th and 12th centuries.
As elephant ivory became scarce following the Muslim conquests, walrus ivory was commonly used to create intricate gaming sets. Carving centres such as Cologne, northern France, and St Albans produced pieces that ranged in artistic style and subject matter.
A medieval depiction of Backgammon, or ‘Tables’
The centrepiece of Gorringe’s discovery features a crossbowman firing upward, with his squire behind him holding a shield over his head, possibly to protect him from incoming fire. The crossbowman is dressed in a mail hauberk and coif, and his shield shows the loop, or ‘enarm,’ where his arm would be placed when carrying it in battle. A lance pierces his shield, and the intricate scene is framed by a border of repeating quatrefoils and rectangular fillets. The squire, clad in a surcoat with a pricked pattern, holds either a quiver of crossbow bolts or a flask of wine, suggesting they are in a siege scenario.
Experts believe this particular piece was crafted in Cologne between 1140 and 1170.
A Romanesque madder stained walrus ivory Tableman or gaming piece, Cologne, c.1140-1180 AD
Similar pieces are part of museum collections, such as those in the Victoria & Albert Museum, which houses a number of Romanesque gaming counters. The only known complete set of tablemen, discovered in Gloucester in 1983, provides additional insight into the game’s popularity amongst medieval nobility. With more than 250 Romanesque examples known, most belong to museums, meaning the Gorringe’s tableman is a real rarity for collectors.
The magnitude of these pieces is reflected in their auction results. In 2020, a similar tableman carved with a scene from Aesop’s Fables fetched £40,000 at Lawrences in Crewkerne. Given its artistic merit and historical value, the Gorringe’s gaming piece is expected to attract considerable interest from collectors and history enthusiasts alike.
As this medieval treasure prepares to go to auction, it will no doubt attract the attention of both collectors and historians.
Hosted both in person and online via Easy Live Auction, bidders will have the chance to bring home a piece of history. For those interested in bidding, the Gorringe’s Interiors & Decorative Arts Sale takes place on October 8th. This is definitely one to keep an eye on!