Step back into the charm of Turn-of-the-Century France with this exquisite antique French picture domino game, "Domino des Fleurs" (Domino of Flowers). Dating from the late 19th to early 20th century (circa 1900), this gorgeous set completely replaces traditional numeric pips with delicate, vibrant botanical illustrations.
Instead of dots, players match lovely antique lithographed imagery including blooming red roses, crisp white daisies, delicate lily of the valley, and elegant butterflies against a serene robin's-egg blue background. Each domino tile is constructed from solid wooden blocks faced with beautifully preserved chromolithograph paper illustrations. The set comes housed in its original dark plum/burgundy cardboard box, featuring a stunning, ornate cover label framed by garlands and botanical vignettes.
Based on the tag on the back, Aux Galeries Lafayette was a high-end department store in Paris, France. In the layout of the historic Parisian department store, Rayon 48 specifically designated the Toys, Games, and Parlor Pastimes department (Rayon des Jeux et Jouets). The 11 fr 90 price tag indicates that this game box was sold at a premium price tier for standard household entertainment at the time. French department stores frequently commissioned exclusive, high-quality versions of these games, often packaging them in elegant, paper-covered boxes featuring matching floral designs to sell as luxury holiday gifts or upscale parlor amusements.
This item is in beautiful antique condition with wear consistent with its age, giving it a highly desirable, authentic patina. The graphics on the box and tiles remain remarkably bright, clear, and richly colored. There is typical edge wear, scuffing, and minor paper aging on the box corners and wooden blocks, which only adds to its historic character.
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