Stylish full-size C19th French walnut antique backgammon game

A beautiful 19th century French walnut backgammon game probably dates from around 1890-1900. With its unusual pale green baize playing surface this 130-year-old game is equally beautiful as an ‘objet d’art’ laid out on your coffee table - or as a rare playing board for the backgammon enthusiast. It is a full-size board measuring (open), 72 cms (28 1/2”) long, by 52 cms (20 1/2”) wide. The outer surface of the box has a beautiful marquetry (inlaid wood) draughts / checkers / chess board which is in excellent condition. (I usually have a number of antique and vintage chess sets available, which you can add to this game if you wish - please see the ‘Chess Pieces & More’ section of this boutique). The playing pieces or ‘stones’ are 2” (5cm) diameter and made from French boxwood - an exceptionally hard wood, also used to make the early French 'boules'. The two matching original leather dice cups also have a terrific patina. This set comes complete with two sets of dice from a later period. The game has been fully restored, but I have chosen not to replace the beautiful original, pale green baize playing surface, which has a small amount of moth damage (visible in the photos) as I believe that a part of the charm of these old games is their patina and the sense of history that comes with them.

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, Scotland, the Balearic Islands, Canada, Australia, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Monaco, England, Ireland, 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 100+ 5-star reviews here on Etsy I will happily provide written, and verifiable, references from 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 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 and some other European countries my shipper normally delivers to a 'collection point' (Relay Point) close to your home. For other EU countries and the rest of the world, 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.