A NASRID IVORY AND EBONY INLAID GAMING BOARD

Both backgammon and chess were popular in the Islamic world and were introduced into the Iberian peninsula in the 10th century. The Libro de los Juegos (Book of Games), a manuscript commissioned by Alfonso X in the 1283 and now in the library of the Escorial, includes many colour illustrations of chess including the versions imported from the Arab kingdoms. Many of the illustrations depict parties engaged in chess on boards of similarly rectangular form to the present example (Jaime I, Rey y Caballero, Valencia, 2008, ms. T.1.6, pno. 94, pp. 202-03).

Combined boards of the form found here are known at least from the 14th century onwards. An all-wood non folding example is in Granada (Arte Islamico en Granada, Exhibition Catalogue, Granada, 1995, no.181, p.427). Another example is in the Kunsthistorischesmuseum, Vienna. A comb decorated with identical technique and equally inlaid with silver thread which has been attributed to Italy but dating from circa 1500 and showing very considerable Islamic influence is in the Victoria and Albert Museum (Trkische Kunst und Kultur aus osmanischer Zeit, exhibition catalogue, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1985, vol.2, no, p.331).

A very similar board to the present sold in these Rooms, 13 April 2010, lot 56. For another Nasrid gaming board and a discussion on the technique of inlay in both, please see the preceding lot.