Medieval Backgammon Pieces exhibited in Louisville Museum

Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky will be exhibiting medieval game pieces of the backgammon predecessor game "Tables" (or "Tabula") among other medieval and renaissance treasures from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. 

Speed Art is one of the four American museums to exhibit an exclusive collection of renaissance and medieval objects, on loan from the prestigious London-based Victoria and Albert Museum in London. One of the unique treasures that will appear at the Louisville temporary exhibition is two "Tablemen" made of ivory, the medieval equivalent of modern backgammon. 

According to Ruth Cloudman, the chief curator at the Speed Art Museum, the medieval game pieces were manufactured in Cologne, Germany at the beginning of the 12th century. The board game "Tables", also known as "Tabula" was very popular in Middle Ages Europe. It is believed that the game rules were very similar to contemporary backgammon rules. 

Other "Medieval & Renaissance Treasures" include Donatello's "Winged Putto with Fantastic Fish", an early kinetic sculpture in which the fish's mouth splashed water and the wheel held by the cherub was started by the cherub's penis. 

Medieval & Renaissance Treasures from the Victoria and Albert Museum will be exhibited at the Speed Art Museum until April 20, 2008.