What games are in a compendium?

A compendium typically houses equipment for chess, backgammon, dominoes and card games within a single compartmentalised wooden box. These versatile sets were built for family entertainment in nineteenth-century drawing rooms.

How do I date a board?

Dating relies on timber choices such as mahogany or burr walnut, alongside hinge types, leather book-bindings and paper linings. Victorian and Edwardian pieces often display distinct joinery methods and hardware styles characteristic of their decade of manufacture.

Are travelling sets complete?

Many surviving travelling sets retain their original miniature wooden or bone pieces, fitted snugly inside leather or wooden folding cases. Checking compartment layouts helps confirm whether all pieces belong to the original configuration.

How should I store them?

These wooden boxes and leather-bound boards prefer stable indoor environments away from direct sunlight and damp conditions. Keeping pieces in their designated compartments prevents friction wear on carved bone and polished wood surfaces.