Collection Highlights
Punch bowl: Landing of Lafayette
Date:
1840-1850
Object Number:
1910.24
Medium:
Earthenware
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
The Exciting Laughable New Game, Pillow-Dex
Object Number:
2000.415
Date:
1896
Medium:
Wood, cardboard, paper, cord
Dimensions:
box: 1 1/8 x 7 x 5 3/8 in. ( 2.9 x 17.8 x 13.7 cm )
Marks:
lithographed: on the box cover: "FUN FOR ALL AGES/ THE EXCITING/ LAUGHABLE/ NEW GAME/ "PILLOW-/ DEX"/ TRADE/ MARK/ PARKER/ BROTHERS/ Copyright 1896/ by/ PATENT APPLIED FOR/ SALEM MASS USA"
Description:
"Pillow-Dex" table game with six sets of paper instructions, an envelope to hold balloons and four sets of wooden blocks and cord that make the dividing line in a paper covered cardboard box; box cover chromolithographed with a family playing pillow-dex around a parlor table; box cover inscribed, "FUN FOR ALL AGES/ THE EXCITING/ LAUGHABLE/ NEW GAME/ "PILLOW-/ DEX"/ TRADE/ MARK/ PARKER/ BROTHERS/ Copyright 1896/ by/ PATENT APPLIED FOR/ SALEM MASS USA".
Gallery Label:
In Pillow Dex, a precursor of Ping-Pong, players volleyed a balloon over a net stretched across the parlor table. Introduced by Parker Brothers in the 1890s, Pillow Dex was one of the most heavily advertised games of the period.
Bibliography:
Hofer, Margaret K. "The Games We Played: The Golden Age of Board & Table Games." New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2003.
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
