This is a complete board game of 37 hole marble solitaire with a very good 10.1 inch diameter hardwood board and 38 beautiful individual agate mineral stone marbles, which we date to the early 20th century, circa 1920 and probably of French origin.
 
The circular turned board is made of a well figured hardwood, possibly walnut, with a gallery to the outer rim. There are 36 equi-spaced holes with an additional one in the centre. It comes complete with a full set of 38 (36 plus two spares) different agate mineral stone handmade playing marbles, all of different natural colors and markings. The marbles in this set are very tactile with a diameter of nominally 0.75 inches. Some of the marbles have wear to them, as expected. Popular in the court of Louis the XIV, the game was supposedly invented by a nobleman incarcerated in the Bastille in France during the 17th century and was popular in the court of Louis XIV. It is a challenging game for the fan of strategy and skill and became one of the more popular games of the last few hundred years. To play, place 36 marbles with one hole left unoccupied in the middle of the board. The objective is simply to remove all but one of the marbles by jumping one marble over another, similar to Draughts. The marble jumped is removed to the gallery. Larger 37 hole boards like this one are rarer than the normal 33 hole boards and more interesting to play. This board has developed a lovely mellow color over time from age and use. Agate stone marbles are also harder to find.
 
Overall a very beautiful set, for display and for playing.
 
Dimensions: 
Height: 1.15 in (2.93 cm)Diameter: 10.1 in (25.66 cm)
Condition: 
Some wear and nibbles to some of the marbles from use, as expected. Overall very good condition.