What materials were used for these sets?

Makers relied heavily on boxwood paired with ebony or ebonised wood for standard wooden sets. Bone and ivory also appear frequently, particularly in earlier nineteenth-century examples. Cases and boards utilise mahogany, rosewood, burr walnut, and leather bindings to protect the pieces during storage.

How do travelling sets work?

Travelling sets often feature pegged wooden pieces that fit securely into drilled holes on the board surface. Other versions utilise sliding mechanisms or folding leather boards designed for portability. These compact sets allowed Victorians to play matches while on coaches, trains, or steamships without losing the positions of the pieces.

Are games compendiums common?

Games compendiums appear regularly, housing chess alongside backgammon, draughts, and sometimes cribbage within a single fitted box. These multi-game boxes utilise folding lids that double as playing boards. Burr walnut and mahogany form the primary carcasses for these elaborate parlour items.