Antique French walnut backgammon board, circa 1900

This is a beautiful example of a particularly well-preserved inlaid-wood (or marquetry) backgammon board from around 1900, a period when backgammon was all the rage in France and beyond. This is a mid-size, walnut board measuring 22" X 17" (56 cms X 43 cms) open. With its cream and pale green inlaid wood playing surface this game is equally at home as a talking point laid out on your coffee table - or as a playing board for real backgammon enthusiasts with a sense of history. The exterior of the game is a marquetry chess board which is in very good condition. I very rarely see a game of this antiquity in such good condition. The internal marquetry playing surface is in near perfect condition. The playing pieces are 1 1/2” (4 cms) diameter and made from French boxwood and have the really beautiful patina that comes from 125 years of play. (Fun fact : Boxwood is an extremely hard wood, native to France, which was also used to make the early 'boules'). The two leather dice cups have a magnificent patina. The hinges and closing mechanisms are in brass. The set is complete with two sets of tasteful modern dice (antique dice bone are available if you prefer, at no extra cost, but please do bear in mind that they are inevitably somewhat smaller and slightly irregular as they were made and marked, by hand). (If you are interested in suitable period chess pieces to match this game please see 'CHESS PIECES', lower down on this page).

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.