Bagatelle Game

[ca. 1800–1899]

Game board (a) of the bagatelle family, probably billard japonais. Labeled as an early pinball game, closer to pachinko than modern pinball. Wood, painted, edges covered in flowered paper. Channels on right and left sides to guide marbles upward; curved top edge; multiple pins arranged in diamond pattern on face; six metal cups to trap marbles. Background is painted with Asian scenes but seems to have Western art style. One of the figures in particular seems to be wearing a mid 19th century woman's skirt with oriental decoration. Bottom has eight compartments for marbles to land in; these are numbered 8, 3, 5, 4, 2, 7, 1, 9 [points?]. Mallet (b) consists of a slender wood dowel with an oblong head. 12" long. Two marbles (c) and (d) (may not be original)--one black; one white with orange marbling.