Tic-Tac-Toe Set

Warm-toned grid board with chunky white crosses and rings waiting for a turn.

This camel bone and wood tic-tac-toe set is from the United States, and dates to the 20th century. It is camel bone, wood & board. Camel bone is a pale, dense material that carves cleanly, and it is often inlaid or paired with wood to make small game boards and counters. Square board in honey-colored grain, divided into nine squares by narrow dark lines. Thick white crosses and rings, cut flat, lie in several squares. A small golden key-shaped piece rests at the upper left corner. It is 7 inches wide, 7 deep and 0.75 high.

Plays gently and wins slowly, if it ever does.