Backgammon And Chess Set In Wooden Box
Backgammon And Chess Set In Wooden Box
31908
Antique Folding Wooden Chess, Backgammon and Draughts Board.
An attractive antique folding wooden games board incorporating chess, backgammon and draughts, complete with a full set of wooden chessmen and thirty draughts or backgammon counters. The exterior features a chess or draughts board, beautifully constructed with alternating dark and light wooden square veneers on mahogany. When opened and turned over, a decorative backgammon board is revealed, with contrasting mahogany, ebony and satinwood inlaid points, geometric diamond-shaped motifs and fine decorative stringing.
The chess set comprises thirty-two turned wooden pieces in natural and ebonised finishes, each with a wide base for added stability. The four Knights are carved to represent the head and neck of a horse, whilst the two Kings are the tallest pieces, measuring 10.2 cm high, each surmounted by a stylised crown topped with a cross. The two Queens, measuring 8½ cm high, feature coronets topped with small balls. The four Rooks are fashioned as castle towers with crenellated tops, whilst the four Bishops have traditional mitres. The sixteen Pawns are the smallest pieces, measuring 5½ cm high, each surmounted by a plain ball. All the pieces feature turned collars, with the exception of the Rooks and Knights. The chessmen form a complete set of thirty-two pieces, with no damage.
The backgammon set consists of thirty wooden counters, fifteen dark and fifteen light. These can also be used for draughts, also known as checkers, for which twelve counters are required on each side. The counters are also complete and without damage. Both sets of playing pieces are housed in the game box once closed.
The folding board is fitted with metal hinges and catches, allowing it to be closed for storage. The contrasting woods, decorative inlay and three traditional games make this an attractive and versatile antique games set.
Dimensions: The board measures 47½ cm by 40 cm when open, with a height of 4½ cm. Each chess square measures 4.6 cm.
Staunton chess sets were first made available by Jaques to the general public on 29th September 1849 and quickly became the standard style. The journalist Nathaniel Cooke, editor of the Illustrated London News, had registered his design earlier that year at the Patent Office on 1st March and named the style after the leading English chess master of the time, Howard Staunton. Staunton published chess articles for the Illustrated London News and was asked to endorse the chess sets by Cooke. The first 500 Jaques sets were numbered and hand-signed by Staunton, who actively promoted the new design whilst openly criticising other styles of chessmen.
Dimensions:
1900-1949
Circa 1920
Wood
England
Good and usable with some wear and tear, small split. Later chess figures and new backgammon discs.
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