What is a games compendium box?

A games compendium is a wooden cabinet or box fitted with trays holding multiple different games. They usually contain equipment for chess, draughts and various card games. Manufacturers designed them for family use in the drawing room. More complex examples have doors at the front and a lid that opens to reveal the pieces neatly stored in individual bays.

My grandfather left me a wooden chess board with some pieces missing from the set, so is it possible to find replacement parts easily?

Finding exact replacements for antique chessmen is difficult. Hand-turned pieces vary slightly even within the same original set. You can sometimes source spare pieces from dealers who break up incomplete sets. Match the height and base diameter of the pawns first. You'll also need to check the exact profile of the collars and the turning style of the finials. Another option is having a woodturner copy an existing piece. They can usually stain the new timber to match the aged colour of your set.

Why do old dice look uneven?

Early dice were cut by hand from solid bone or ivory. The maker filed them square using hand tools rather than precision machinery. This manual process leaves slight variations in the dimensions of each face. The pips were drilled out individually, which also adds to the irregular appearance.

I have an old folding backgammon board that smells very musty when I open it up, how do I clean the leather inside?

Leather points inside a folding board dry out and absorb damp if stored badly. Start by brushing out any loose dust with a soft, dry brush. Don't use modern liquid cleaners or saddle soap. These introduce moisture that can lift the glue holding the leather to the timber backing. You can apply a very light coat of microcrystalline wax to condition the surface and seal out the damp smell.

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Antique Games in London

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Ranging from folding wooden boards enclosing carved pieces to large floor-standing tables, antique games provided indoor amusement before the advent of broadcast entertainment.