Photography © The Art Institute of Chicago Gift of the Antiquarian Society (1995.95.1-4). Ward Thorne endowments through prior gift of the Antiquarian Society (1993.349). Two centuries before television, nocturnal entertainment meant in-person social networking, storytelling, and maintaining one’s composure when lady luck neglected to arrive at the gaming table.īox Set of Gaming Pieces ( Boîte de jeu), Austrian (Vienna), about 1735–40, Du Paquier Porcelain Manufactory, hard-paste porcelain, polychrome enamel decoration, gilding gold mounts diamonds. Children honed their math skills by counting cards, reading the dice, and tallying the score.

The upper echelons of French society considered games a highly instructive learning tool for the little ones. Among aristocrats, gaming was an indication of status, rank, wealth and class. Gaming in the 18th century was a way of advertising a healthy surplus of disposable income. Wealthy European outside the kingdom, who imitated French fashion and design, also adopted this addictive diversion. Salons during the reign of Louis XV, between 17, were packed with a well-heeled set who loved card games-often played using decks illustrated with portraits of the kings of France.

“Games in the 18th century were played on all levels of society, for all different reasons and age groups,” Charissa Bremer-David, curator of sculpture and decorative arts at the Getty Museum and the exhibition’s co-curator, told me. An elegant setting for gaming on display Paris: Life & Luxury: a card and writing table ( table à quadrille brisé) from about 1725, two armchairs ( fauteuils à la reine) from about 1735, and a pair of candlesticks ( flambeaux) from about 1680–90.

French casino card game