Two damas (checkers) pieces, molded plastic with crown device, from at least two sets — yellow

Name/Title

Two damas (checkers) pieces, molded plastic with crown device, from at least two sets — yellow

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.425

Description

Two circular playing pieces in four colors, of one general design but two distinct molds. Each is a flat disc, slightly domed at center, molded on the visible face with three concentric raised rings stepping inward to a plain central field bearing a crown in outline — a five-point form with a tall central spike, two shorter flanking points, and a plain straight-sided band below, rendered as a single line, not filled. Edges plain and slightly rounded, with a circumferential line partway down the thickness.

Context

Damas is played in Cuba on an 8 × 8 board, twelve pieces to a side, conventionally one player red and the other black; the piece that reaches the far rank becomes a reina. It sits among the board games familiar in Cuban households alongside ajedrez, damas chinas, parchís, cubilete and above all dominó, which is treated as second only to baseball in Cuban popular culture. Cuba was admitted to the Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames, with international draughts — the 10 × 10, twenty-piece variant — promoted more recently by enthusiasts.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Place

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

the paaler one is consistent with remelted or lower-grade stock — the same observation that supported the merolico reading of the die.

Parts

two pieces

Material

Plastic

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

September 6, 2026

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

September 6, 2026