(Item #188)

This Antique Ivory Billiard Tally Ball/Pea Set dates to the c.1880s and represents a rare survival of 19th-century gaming equipment. The set is complete, featuring balls numbered #1 through #16, each finished with distinct hand-scrimshawed numbering.

Technical Details & Condition

  • Material: Authentic antique ivory, showing the natural grain and characteristic mellow patina expected from high-quality 19th-century sets.

  • Craftsmanship: The numbers are hand-etched (scrimshawed) rather than machine-stamped, a hallmark of Victorian-era production that ensures each “pea” is unique.

  • Era: Circa 1880s, matching the period of elaborate parlor games and high-stakes billiard matches.

Historical Significance

Tally balls, often referred to as “shaker peas,” were essential for games like Kelly Pool or Pill Pool, where players drew a random number to determine their secret target ball. Finding a complete set of sixteen from this era in such condition is increasingly difficult for collectors of billiard ephemera.

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