In ancient China, the terms that defined the universe of games were xi and bo which mean game or to play. While the first term referred to a show or board game, bo applied strictly to gambling and board games.
This collection of rectangular and circular mother-of-pearl gambling chips caught the attention of Mr. Pedro del Rio Zañartu as every chip was individually pierced and finely carved on both sides with scenes of figures in front of an exterior architecture and trees. Mother-of-pearl chips were produced in the 18th and 19th centuries mainly for export and were sought after by tourists and foreign traders who visited the Chinese ports. A medallion was even left untouched, so that the future buyer could carve his initials.