Chinese, Western Han (206 BD–AD 9)
Painted bronze, 2.8–3.2 in high
Anonymous loan
Liubo was a two-person board game popular during the Han dynasty, which was similar to backgammon or checkers, although its precise rules have been lost. Moves were determined by throwing sticks onto a mat, as one would throw dice. Chance and luck seem to have been more important than skill.
Weights, sometimes made in the form of players and spectators, were used to hold down the corners of the mats. In these examples, the figures gesture excitedly at the throwing of the game sticks. The weights have been painted, which is an unusual technique for decorating bronzes.
