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sellingantiques.co.uk
ID #SA752297
FOR SALE
£795
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19th Century Mother of Pearl Chessboard with Backgammon Interior
Hobson May Collection
for sale €930     $1,010
£795
Hobson May Collection

Hobson May Collection

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2015
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    Decorative furniture and accessories from the 18th to 20th century
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Id #SA752297
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19th Century Mother of Pearl Chessboard with Backgammon Interior

19th century
Description

This is fabulous!! A mid 19th century mother of pearl inlaid and painted chessboard with backgammon interior. The hinged top of this papier mache chess board opens to reveal a gilded and painted backgammon board.

The condition of this antique chessboard is good, there is evidence of historic repairs to one of the hinges, this is shown in the photographs and it does not affect the opening or stability of the board in any way.

Apart from being a super games board, this is a highly decorative object to display.

c. 1860

Width: 15.75" 40 cm

Depth: 14 " 35.5 cm

Width when closed: 8" 20 cm

Height when closed: 2.5" 6.5 cm

Physical Dimensions
Height
6.5cm (2.56")
Width
20cm (7.87")
Declaration

Hobson May Collection has dated this Mother of Pearl Chessboard to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA752297
Dealers Internal Reference
D683
Description
This is fabulous!! A mid 19th century mother of pearl inlaid and painted chessboard with backgammon interior.
“
The hinged top of this papier mache chess board opens to reveal a gilded and painted backgammon board.
Hobson May Collection
fig 1. A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders.
fig 1. 19th Century Mother of Pearl Chessboard with Backgammon Interior

The condition of this antique chessboard is good, there is evidence of historic repairs to one of the hinges, this is shown in the photographs and it does not affect the opening or stability of the board in any way.

fig 2. A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders.
fig 2. 19th Century Mother of Pearl Chessboard with Backgammon Interior

Apart from being a super games board, this is a highly decorative object to display.

c. 1860

Width: 15.75" 40 cm

Depth: 14 " 35.5 cm

Width when closed: 8" 20 cm

Height when closed: 2.5" 6.5 cm

Height
6.5cm (2.56")
Width
20cm (7.87")
Date of Manufacture

Hobson May Collection has dated this Mother of Pearl Chessboard to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA752297
Dealers Internal Ref
D683
Hobson May Collection
Hobson May Collection
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2015

Decorative furniture and accessories from the 18th to 20th century

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Hobson May Collection Profile Page

Relevant Links
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SAVE
A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders.
1 / 11
Archive I A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders.

19th Century Mother of Pearl Chessboard with Backgammon Interior

Archive II A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders. View II
Archive III A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders. View III
Archive IV Scale Reference for A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders.
Archive V A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders. View V
Archive VI A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders. View VI
Archive VII A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders. View VII
Archive VIII A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders. View VIII
Archive IX A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders. View IX
Archive X A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders. View X
Archive XI A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders. View XI
Enlarged Archival View
Hobson May Collection

Hobson May Collection
Telephone 07768 304056 or 0771 386 0021
Location
Cheshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/hobson
Verified Since Oct 2015
Items For Sale 105
Items Sold 819
Hobson May Collection
Hobson May Collection
Verified Since Oct 2015
View Dealer Info
Location: Cheshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/hobson
Verified
Oct 2015
For Sale
105
Sold
819
A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders.
19th Century Mother of Pearl Chessboard with Backgammon Interior
Ref: SA752297
A nineteenth-century folding black lacquer chessboard featuring iridescent star-patterned mother of pearl squares and painted floral borders.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Scale Reference
Archival Detail

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FAQs

Inlaid games boards featuring mother of pearl were popular luxury decorative objects during the nineteenth century, crafted across Victorian Britain, Syria, and East Asia for display and entertainment in private homes.

Craftsmen prepared base structures using dense wood or papier-mache, applying dark lacquer grounds before setting hand-cut pieces of mother of pearl and abalone shell into geometric star or floral patterns.

Authentic period boards feature hand-carved shell elements with subtle variations in colour and thickness, hand-painted floral details, and age-consistent wear along the folding edges and corners.

Place the board open or closed on a coffee table, console, or library desk to add contrast, rich texture, and historical context alongside modern decorative accents.

Dust gently using a dry microfibre cloth, keeping the board away from direct sunlight, moisture sources, and severe temperature fluctuations to prevent the shell inlay from lifting.
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