Bone and Ebony Dominoes Value Guide

These Victorian-era dominoes represent 19th-century French craftsmanship, featuring a delicate layer of bovine bone pinned to a dense ebony wood base. They are highly collectible for their dual-material construction and the inclusion of functional brass 'spinners' designed to protect the bone faces during play.

What affects the value of Bone and Ebony Dominoes?

• Completeness of the set, as missing tiles significantly reduce the market value from the $50-$55 range.
• The physical condition of the bone faces, specifically looking for cracks, yellowing, or missing brass spinner pins.
• The presence of an original storage box, which adds historical context and protects the delicate materials.
• The precision of the hand-carved pips and the overall tightness of the metal pins connecting the bone to the ebony.

How to Identify Bone and Ebony Dominoes?

• Look for the visible brass spinner pin in the center of each tile, which was used to facilitate shuffling and prevent surface wear.
• Examine the side profile to confirm the two-part construction where the white bone layer is pinned to the dark ebony wood.
• Check for natural grain patterns in the bone and the characteristic heavy weight and dark hue of authentic ebony.
• Verify the French origin and Victorian dating (1860-1890) through the specific hand-drilled pips and aged patina of the materials.

History of Bone and Ebony Dominoes

These sets were popular during the 19th century and were typically handcrafted by pinning a thin layer of bovine bone to a solid ebony base. The small brass pin in the center, known as a 'spinner', was originally designed to protect the bone face from wear and to help shuffle the tiles by making them easier to spin on a table.