Last night I posted a scan of five Clemens Briels (renowned European artist) chips. Since then I have had a number of emails inquiring about the set. Here is all I know.

The set was created for the Holland Casinos and is titled "The Art of the Game." According to the included booklet the casino regularly sponsors art exhibitions in their casinos.

In the late 90's, Mr. Briels was commissioned to create a set of chips depicting five scenes taken from operas that have a gambling theme as part of their story. Each chip has a value of 10 (guilders?) on the reverse. The five chips he created depict passages from the following operas:

1. La Fanciulla del West

Minnie took the winning cards from her stockings

2. La Traviata

Alfredo throws all his profits into Violettas face

3. Porgy and Bess

Porgy leaves Catfish Row to find Bess

4. Pique Dame

The secret was not an Ace but Queen of Spades

5. The Gambler

It is hard to choose between winning and loving

The set came beautifully packaged in a heavy plexiglass frame, with a folio cover and descriptive colour booklet.

This set, for me, brings the concept of chips to a much higher level of creativity, linking casino/gambling culture with fine art. I wish there were more being released.