Paris: Saussine, 1865-1878.

Magnetic fortune telling board game, 21cm x 26cm. Constructed of painted wood and cardboard, significant wear, most notably to corners and extremities, the lid consists of the decorated top panel but has lost three of the four strengthening “lips” that would have firmly attached it to the base, although as a whole it is appreciably solid. A self-contained game in the form of a box with a painted glass and wood top with applied chromolithograph decoration, the magnetic blue bird moves beneath the window when a card and bone spinner with a metallic element is spun above it. The spinner has various fortune subjects written on it in French to “ask” the blue bird about. Once the bird stops spinning, its beak will be pointed at one of eight small circular lidded boxes affixed to the game surface (some of these are a trifle worn to the decorative paper covers, but still bright and attractive). Once opened, the boxes contain tiny circular handwritten paper “fortunes” which can be interpreted according to the original question. An object that clearly shows the passage of time, but remains nevertheless very pretty and functional. Saussine was a prolific creator of board games and novelty toys, racing games, strategy games, card games and elaborate shadow theatres, most notably exhibiting at the Paris Exposition in 1878. He died in 1896, and the business was continued by his wife and son well into the early 20th century. The chromolithograph image to the lid depicts two rather prosperous looking young people, possibly royalty, (with particular focus on the young lady, who may or not be a princess) being taught the magical mysteries of the Blue Bird by a typically wizardly looking elderly gentleman, and a wise woman. Examples of objects like this are quite rare in functional condition, and although this one is showing definite signs of age, it still has a rather pleasing dignity.