Pretty French walnut backgammon board, circa 1930

This is an unusual French walnut backgammon game dating from around 1930 - the end of a period known as 'The Roaring Twenties'. The design of game is in the French 'rustic' style - and it would be perfect for lazy Summer backgammon games in the shade of an old tree - or perhaps in front of a blazing log fire in a country home, or maybe even snuggled up in a ski chalet …. This delightful game positively oozes charm and simply cries out for a buccolic, rustic setting - and a collector or a backgammon enthusiast with an eye for originality. I love these rustic boards - they are such a great contrast to the more traditional formal French boards. Unusually, the exterior has both a marquetry chess board and a marquetry checkers (or drafts) board. If you are interested in chess pieces please see below. The structure and the inner backgammon playing surface are walnut, with marquetry (inlaid wood) 'points' - possibly ebony and apple ? The board has wear consistent with a game that is almost a hundred years old, but overall it is in extremely good condition. I have been very careful not to 'over restore' this game as I feel that so much of its charm and sense of history comes from its rich patina and the signs of a life well-lived. The playing pieces (or 'stones') are 5 cms (2") diameter and made from boxwood that has been either stained black or left natural. They too have a delightful patina. This is a mid-size board measuring (open), 74 cms (29”) long, by 37 cms (14 1/2”) wide. The hinges and closing mechanisms are in good order. The two leather dice cups are very beautiful and they have the wonderful patina of probably hundreds of games played. This set comes complete with two sets of modern dice. I will happily swap these for period dice, at no additional cost, if you wish - but please just bear in mind that theses are usually smaller and often slightly irregular since they were made by hand.

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.