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a wooden dice with numbers on it on a white surfacea close up of a dice with numbers on it on a white surfacea dice with numbers written on it on a white surfacea wooden dice with numbers on it on a white surfacedice with numbers carved on it on a white surfacea wooden dice with numbers on it on a white surface
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522 - A rare and important 32-sided Royal Oak lottery die carved f…
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Estimate €6,000 - €8,000
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Description
A rare and important 32-sided Royal Oak lottery die carved from walrus ivory, with the face engraved with the number 1 featuring a closed crown. England, c. 1700 Diameter: approx. 5 cm (slight wear) The English philosopher John Locke (1632–1704) mentions a 32-sided ivory ball in his *Some Thoughts Concerning Education* (1693), in section 150 devoted to learning to read: ‘And if one were to make an ivory ball similar to that of the Royal Oak lottery, with 32 sides…’. The Royal Oak Lottery, introduced in 1630 by Charles I to finance the water supply to London, was part of a long-standing tradition: public lotteries had been institutionalised in England as early as 1568–1569 under Elizabeth I, in order to fund the kingdom’s defences against the Spanish threat. Held regularly right up to the time of Cromwell and beyond, they offered a variety of prizes (silverware, jewellery, paintings, tapestries, and even live stags) and were a popular and lucrative means of increasing public revenue. Dice such as these were among the items used in the prize draws.
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About the sale A fine sale of jewellery, silverware, works of art and furniture
Auction location
Auction time 08/02/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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