Mother-of-pearl backgammon board with brass corner guards

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The object

Folding board, hinged in the middle and carried in its own straps. The inlay is a single panel design across both halves, with the points cut rather than printed, and it comes with its own counters — fifteen white and fifteen amber, one of the amber replaced with a later dyed one. The brass guards are screwed on, not cast, and two of the screws are replacements. Sold folded, as it has lived for thirty years.

Flaws disclosed by the holder

• Two inlay tiles are missing from the top-left corner.
• One brass guard is dented along its lower edge.

Where it came from

Bought in Alexandria in 1961 by the holder’s grandfather, a shipping agent who kept it under his desk at the office and played the last game of the day on it with whoever was still in the room.

Dimensions

Length

55 cm

Width

30 cm

Height

6 cm

Weight

4.2 kg

Bid history

1. Bid #1EGP 2,400
2. Bid #2EGP 2,625
3. Bid #3EGP 3,925

Prices shown are what the auction reached, not what any bidder typed.