A tole games box and counters for Boston Russe

A Tole Games Box and Counters for Boston Russe – Decorative Object, Card Game

This highly distinctive 19th-century tole games box represents the sophisticated style of the Charles X period. Finely crafted and redolent of French Romanticism, it encapsulates the era’s flair for exquisite decorative objects and rare card games.

Origin: France

Date: Circa 1830 (Charles X period)

Material: Painted tole (tôle peinte) with transfer vignettes

Dimensions: (Please enquire for precise measurements)

Condition: Excellent, with well-preserved decoration and only slight wear commensurate with age.

Such tole games boxes are seldom found, especially complete with their original gaming counters and the period-correct printed rules for Boston Russe. This particular style is aligned with the penchant for ornate yet practical objects during the Charles X reign, echoing examples now held in French national and private museum collections. As Boston—a strategic card game, related to Whist and popularised during the time of the American War of Independence—spread throughout Europe, these beautifully decorated game boxes became treasured by connoisseurs and collectors alike.

Notable Features:

• Exceptional hand-painted decoration in the Romantic style, adorned throughout with delicate transfer-printed vignettes.

• Elegant yet robust construction in painted tole, a favoured medium during the early 19th century for its decorative possibilities and durability.

• An early and rare example tied to the development of social gaming and card games, offering both historical resonance and aesthetic pleasure.

• The design significance lies in its fusion of playful function and Charles X refinement, featuring balanced proportions and evocative French motifs.

• Highly collectable due to its rarity, period authenticity, and completeness—this piece would make a distinguished addition to any specialist collection of 19th-century decorative objects or antique card games.

• Practical as both a display piece and a conversation starter, it offers enthusiasts the charm of historical French design, as well as insight into the sociable customs of the time.

Whether showcased in a refined interior, used as a focus within a collection of period games, or cherished for its decorative merit, this tole games box for Boston Russe embodies the elegance and ingenuity of French Charles X craftsmanship—a true rarity amongst antique decorative objects.