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Royal Game of Urm...?

ROMERIL, William
Royal Game of Urm...?
Image: © Will Romeril/Penelope and Oliver Makower(1974)Trust/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
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Gameboard, rectangular shape based on Royal Game of Ur.

The original object was excavated from the Royal Cemetery in Ur in Iraq in c.1928 by Sir Leonard Woolley and is now held in the British Museum – Registration number 1928,1009.37. It was produced around 2600BC-2400BC. While there are interpretations there is still no clear way to play the game.

In 2025 silversmith Will Romeril recreated the gameboard with 20 squares containing designs and information relating to facts and statistics found in government reports, service provider and economic data websites. Reflecting that the infrastructure of modern Britain is a game we don’t know how to play. Suitably titled: Royal Game of Urm...?

Both the artefact in the British Museum and this artwork contains 18 pieces - 1 gameboard, 3 tetrahedral dice, and 14 player tokens.


We have a duty of care to all our audiences. This website draws on legacy collections data. We recognise that some of this information may be outdated or discriminatory and we're currently working to review our records. If you have any questions or comments on an artwork, please contact us.

Copyright statement provided by Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales

Details


Collection

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales

Item Number

NMW A(L) 2391

Creation/Production

ROMERIL, William
Role: Metalworker
Place: Jersey
Period: 2025

Measurements

Length (cm): 37.5
Depth (cm): 15
Height (cm): 3.6
Depth (cm): 2
Height (cm): 2
Depth (cm): 2
Height (cm): 0.1

Material

Sterling silver

Location

In store
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Tags


  • Applied Art
  • Applied Art
  • Applied Art Loan
  • Hobbies And Pastimes
  • Metalwork
  • Silver/Precious Metal
  • The Ancient World

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