Artist/Maker Unidentified maker

Kakelorum (marble game)

1780-1810

Place madeSouthern Germany

Wood, paint, gesso, wire

Overall: 8 1/4 x 7 3/8 x 9 3/4 in. ( 21 x 18.7 x 24.8 cm )

Purchased from Elie Nadelman, 1937

INV.4539

This object was once part of the folk art collection of Elie Nadelman (1882-1946), the avant-garde sculptor. From 1924 to 1934, Nadelman's collection was displayed in his Museum of Folk Arts, located in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. The Historical Society purchased Nadelman's entire collection in 1937. Intended for the amusement of adults rather than children, kakelorum is a game of chance distinctive to upper Austria and southern Germany. Players take turns dropping a marble into an opening at the back of the figure’s head. After descending the spiral chute, the marble lands in one of the sixty-three numbered depressions in the tray below. Players garner points according to the spaces on which their marbles come to rest and win the game outright if one of their marbles lands in the central spot (identified with a red spade). Fashioned entirely from wood, this kakelorum resembles examples made in the Bavarian town of Oberammergau, which had a long-established woodcarving tradition.

DescriptionCarved wooden Kakelorum game with spiral marble run in shape of woman, leading to circular board with 63 depressions, each with a number, and central depression with a red spade; woman's features, jacket, and cap painted in blue, brown, and green over a yellowish ground; deep depression with (missing) cover beside figure to house a marble; 28 transparent colored mica marbles (14 clear, 14 green).

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