Collection Highlights
Mrs. William Walton (1708-1786)
ca. 1750
1902.4
Oil on canvas
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
The Exciting Laughable New Game, Pillow-Dex
Title
The Exciting Laughable New Game, Pillow-Dex
Object name
Table game
Date
1896
Medium
Wood, cardboard, paper, cord
Dimensions
box: 1 1/8 x 7 x 5 3/8 in. ( 2.9 x 17.8 x 13.7 cm )
Description
"The Exciting Laughable New Game, Pillow-Dex" table game with six sets of paper instructions, an envelope to hold balloons and four sets of wooden blocks and cord that make the dividing line in a paper covered cardboard box; box cover chromolithographed with a family playing pillow-dex around a parlor table; box cover inscribed, "FUN FOR ALL AGES/ THE EXCITING/ LAUGHABLE/ NEW GAME/ "PILLOW-/ DEX"/ TRADE/ MARK/ PARKER/ BROTHERS/ Copyright 1896/ by/ PATENT APPLIED FOR/ SALEM MASS USA".
Credit Line
The Liman Collection
Object Number
2000.415
Marks
lithographed: on the box cover: "FUN FOR ALL AGES/ THE EXCITING/ LAUGHABLE/ NEW GAME/ "PILLOW-/ DEX"/ TRADE/ MARK/ PARKER/ BROTHERS/ Copyright 1896/ by/ PATENT APPLIED FOR/ SALEM MASS USA"
Gallery Label
In Pillow Dex, a precursor of Ping-Pong, players volleyed a balloon over a net stretched across the parlor table. Introduced by Parker Brothers in the 1890s, Pillow Dex was one of the most heavily advertised games of the period.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.