Antique Marquetry Backgammon Set with Boxwood Pieces

This is a beautiful example of an inlaid-wood (or marquetry) French walnut backgammon board dating from the early 1900s, a time when backgammon was all the rage in France and beyond. This is a mid-size, solid walnut board measuring 22" X 17 1/2" (56 cms X 44 cms) open. With its delicate pale blue and cream pastel-coloured 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 the backgammon enthusiast. The exterior of the game is a marquetry chess or English drafts board. Quite why it carries a label 'échec & mat' (check mate) I don't know. Perhaps the name of the store that sold it ? The playing pieces are 1 1/2” (4 cms) diameter and made from French boxwood and are in wonderful condition with the patina of hundreds of games played. The two leather dice cups also have a terrific finish. The set is complete with two sets of contempory dice (I can switch these out for period hand-carved bone dice if you prefer, at no additional cost. But please bear in mind that they are almost always somewhat smaller and often slightly irregular as they were made and marked by hand). As is normal with antique games there are some signs of usage and wear (clearly visible in the photos) but I rarely see a game of this antiquity in such good condition. The marquetry playing surfaces, both internal and external, are in fine condition. The joinery uses the classic 'tongue & groove' method - and the hinges and closing mechanisms are in brass. If you are interested in chess pieces to match this board 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 damage during shipping. My shippers are 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.