Antique French Marquetry Backgammon Chess Board - Mid-19th Century

This is a magnificent French backgammon and chess board from the mid-1800s. The exterior of the game is a fine marquetry (inlaid wood) chess board. The structure of the board is walnut. I am unsure of the wood used for the beautiful internal playing surface, but the inlaid ‘points’ are a particularly beautiful combination of maple and ebony. The board measures (open), 70 cms (27 1/2”) long, by 53 cms (21”). This 150+ year-old board would equally at home as a stunning ‘objet d’art’ laid out on a coffee table - as it would a rare playing board for a backgammon enthusiast with a real sense of history. The outer surface of the board shows very little signs of wear and the internal backgammon playing surface is in near perfect condition. It is extremely rare to come across a board of this antiquity in such good condition. The brass hinges are most unusual and in excellent condition. The lovely matching leather dice cups have the wonderful patina of hundreds of games played, over 8 generations. The game is complete with two sets of tasteful modern dice - which I will happily replace with dice from the period if you wish. Do please bear in mind though that period dice were hand carved and marked, so slightly irregular. They are also somewhat smaller. The playing pieces (or 'stones') are 2" (5 mm) diameter and made from beautifully turned French olivewood.

Since I started restoring antique and vintage backgammon boards during the Covid lockdown in early 2020 I’ve sold over 500 of my games to connoisseurs in South Africa, Sweden, Hong Kong, Scotland, the Balearic Islands, Canada, Australia, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Monaco, Mauritius, England, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and of course my home-country, France ... but also in New York, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Alabama, Virginia, Colorado, Tennessee, Washington state, New Hampshire, Idaho, Wyoming, Texas, Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, California, Oregon, Maine, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Maryland, Georgia, Alaska and Puerto Rico. My clients include minor European royalty; national and international backgammon champions; people who can’t play backgammon; British, Austrian, Italian and French aristocracy … and an awful lot of people who just love to play backgammon on these beautiful, historically-charged boards. In addition to the 150+ verified 5-star reviews here on my site, I will happily provide you with contact details for some of my private clients if you so wish.

NOTA : I usually have a variety of vintage instruction / rules booklets, for backgammon and jacquet, in French or English - please ask if you would like me to include one, free of charge, with your game. CHESS PIECES : I do not keep a stock of matching chess pieces to go with my backgammon boards - but I know someone who does ! If you are interested in vintage or antique chess pieces to match your board I will happily introduce you to a friend, who is also based in Europe. He is to antique chess pieces - what I am to antique backgammon. Please feel free to send me a message and I'll be happy to put you in touch directly. DELIVERY : Please note that within France, Belgium, Spain, Germany and some other European countries my usual shipper is Mondial Relay which normally delivers to a 'collection point' (Relay Point) close to your home. For the rest of the world, I generally use FedEx, and the norm is home delivery. I can offer expedited delivery to most destinations. If you don't see this option please message me and I'll give you a rapid quote. INSURANCE : Please note that I do not automatically insure my boards for shipping above the 50€ minimum international cover. My shipper is highly reliable and I very rarely have issues, but accidents can always happen. If you would like me to insure your purchase to its full value there will be a small charge. Please let me know by message and I will set this up.