Topic: Board game pawns (or earplugs)... when was glass used?

[Anik R]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me a little more about these little board game pawns...  Is it possible to identify a maker or country of origin?   And could anyone tell me when glass was used for pawns?

Each is about 22mm tall, with a base which is about 12mm wide.  Though they slightly differ in size and shape (some are wonkier than others), they appear to be pressed as each has a seam.  They are not of any great quality.

My husband insists that they aren't board game pawns, but fancy earplugs...  He even went as far as to demonstrate their use.      Please tell me he isn't right.


Thank you for looking.

[Anne]

Did you take pics of him demonstrating them Anik?  :t:

[antiquerose123]

I have a Glass Chess set here -- so they could be.....

Did you take pics of him demonstrating them Anik?  :t:

.......BUT we will need a Pic of your OH *wearing them* so that we can *truly researching this mystifying puzzle* as great Glass Detectives.....LOL  :24: :24: :24:

[Anik R]

Anne, I didn't take a picture because I was too busy pretending to be all insulted with his 'stupidity'...  but when I took the pieces into the kitchen to re-wash them, I did secretly try one... it actually fit very well into the ear.    Dear me...

Rose, thank you for your photos, however, it's not quite what I meant...  I do know that games of chess (and others) can be found in glass, even today. 

My 'pawns' have got age to them... they're also wonky which leads me to believe they were just usable playing pieces for regular folk and children, hence my question about when glass was commonly used for games.  OK, so it's a dumb question. :spls:

[glassobsessed]

The Romans probably used glass pieces in some of their games and I bet they were not the first. I have a game called Plato (from the 60's or 70's I think) which uses glass balls - I will organise a photo this evening.

In chess you usually only have the pieces in two colours....

John

[Anik R]

John, thank you for your input...   

I do realise that using glass pieces in games is not a 'new' invention. I was just wondering when glass was most commonly used for game pawns.  (I'm approaching 40 and I've only ever used wooden and plastic pieces.) Also, by using the word 'pawns', I wasn't referring to the pieces used in chess.  My little glass thingies are most definitely not part of a chess set -- That much I do know.

 :hi:



 

[Paul S.]

quote from Anik..............."I'm approaching 40".......................so am I, but from the other side .
I suppose that if you had sufficient quantity of these you cud always play peg solitaire - although you wud of course need a board.     In peg solitaire, the colour of the pieces is unimportant, although they are pushed into holes in a board, usually.         Just a thought

[Leni]

I think these are Halma men. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halma 

My grandmother had a set, (although not glass ones) and they were identical in size and shape.  As a child I got into trouble for putting them in my ears     :wsh:

[Lustrousstone]

There are too many colours for Halma though

[glassobsessed]

Chinese checkers uses up to six colours.

Just checked re the Romans, they definitely used glass gaming pieces. They may have been used far more by the aristocracy than the plebs.

John