Bezique or Whist Counters
Two Pairs -- British Faux Tortoiseshell and Japanese Painted

This item is sold. It has been placed here in our online archives as a service for researchers and collectors.

Bezique or Whist Counters
Japanese Painted Bezique Counter

Fronts of Japanese Painted Bezique Counters

Bezique Counter

Backs

Bezique Counter

Fronts of British Tortoiseshell Bezique Counters

Bezique Counter

Backs

Bezique Counter

Detail of silver inscription

Bezique Counter

Detail of silver mark

Pair of Japanese Bezique or Whist Counters
Japan: Early 20th Century
Painted wood
6.75 x 4 x .5 inches, overall

Pair of Tortoiseshell Bezique or Whist Counters
A. Barrett & Sons, London: Early 20th Century
Stamped verso: A. Barrett & Sons, 63 & 64 Piccadilly
Faux tortoiseshell and silver
4 x 2.25 x .5 inches, overall

Sold, please inquire as to the availability of similar items.

Two pairs of decorative bezique or whist counters (also called whist markers). Bezique and whist are related card games that became popular in the late 19th century. One of the pairs is made of faux tortoiseshell trimmed in silver, and was made by Andrew Barrett & Sons, a London silver maker that worked at 63 Piccadilly between 1844 and 1970. The other pair was produced in Japan, made from wood painted with a design incorporating a carp, a prawn and leaves, with red, green and earth tones. Both pairs of counters have white pegs, some with numbers.

Both the pairs of counters are in the Camden design, originated by British playing card manufacturer Charles Goodall and Sons. The Camden was produced in woods such as ebony, walnut, rosewood and satinwood, sometimes incorporating silver elements, and with pegs of wood or other materials. After Goodall and Sons' patent expired, the design was widely copied by producers in Europe and Asia.

References:

"Bezique Counters." Whist Counter (or Marker) Collecting. http://www.charlesmathes.com/whist/Whist%20-%20bezique_counters.htm (26 December 2011).

"Goodall vs. De La Rue." Whist Counter (or Marker) Collecting. http://www.charlesmathes.com/whist/whist%20counters%20-%20Goodall%20vs%20de%20la%20Rue.htm (26 December 2011).