BACKGAMMON - Special Editions

With Backgammon our most popular game, it is only natural that we should push "the boat out" so to speak and offer this fabulous game in exotic and unusual ways.

Water Snake:

You will find on the following pages, examples of boards in Water Snake (or Sea Snake as it is sometimes called) which is usual for Snake skin in that there are no scales that lift - essential for use within a fast flowing Backgammon board. This is available in a range of colours and like all our Bespoke boards, can be made in any combination you care to choose. Due to the width of the skins, large areas such as for the field and cases are stitched together; single skins are used for the points. Distinctive natural markings will appear throughout the board, case and stones/checkers which are inlaid into polished nickel in a Contemporary style. Please note that Water Snake boards are not available in our largest Competition size as the skins are not large enough, but all sets from Tournament and below are available.

Automotive:

Selected from the skins used for super cars, our Automotive hide offers a very contemporary feel to our traditional work, especially when twinned with our Contemporary nickel and leather stones/checkers. We do not however recommend that the playing fields are made in this leather, as the partial perforations in the hide form a vacuum and can slow play down - therefore we make the fields and stones/checkers out of our purpose made Backgammon leather; Dauphin, and bind the case and cups in the Automotive.

Bling:

Bringing a sparkle to any game - our Swavorski crystal inlaid Water Snake and other leather Backgammons are a must for those who want the "wow" factor. Hand inlaid to the stones/checkers and inside the edge of the case (we leave the outside plain to make the opening more dramatic!), this is a great alternative for those who require the look of Diamonds but not perhaps the cost!

Hair on Hide:

At home in a loft apartment in "the Village" or a game lodge in the Delta, our Hair on Hide covered boards offer a fun range of options for those wanting something a little unusual. The base leather is Cow hide which has then not been shaved - different animal pigmentations are printed on the hide to amazing effect - see the "Giraffe" look opposite. Like the Automotive hide above, we inlay a Dauphin calf playing field for speed of play.

Bridle Hide:

This very traditional English hide looks amazing for the cases of Backgammon. Used originally in the Equestrian trade and then for the brief cases of "gentleman" in London's Club land and The City, the hide has a natural tallow applied which will "feed" the leather and help aging and mellowing of the hide - often when first made this will come to the surface of the leather as a white residue which should be brushed back into the leather - this will produce in years to come a beautiful patina. Again, this is hide is only recommended for the case and not for the playing field which will be made in Dauphin calf.

Exotics:

This is where Geoffrey Parker's skills really come to the fore - whether it be an Alligator, Ostrich, Shagreen, Water Snake board or another exotic skin (please note none of our leathers are taken from wild-life, all are farmed) we often will twin skills from other traditional crafts, whether they be the cabinet maker, Gold or Silversmith or the fine jeweller - almost anything is possible - all you have to do is ask................