If you are looking to find an antique games box for sale in the UK, then look no further than Richard Gardner Antiques website which is based in Emsworth in Southern England.

From a very early stage in my dealing career, I have always had a variety of antique games boxes in stock. These come in all shapes and sizes, from simple boxes holding playing cards, to the most elaborate games compendiums you can ever imagine.

To start, there are the slightly smaller boxes that are designed to carry playing cards or perhaps gambling chips. Not all these boxes are simple or plain, especially the French examples, who tended to use the more elaborate woods. English examples could also be very elaborate with Tunbridge Ware producing some fine pieces.

The next examples would be the folding chess and backgammon boards, which again come in all shapes and sizes and woods. Early large examples from the 17th and 18th centuries are generally from Europe, with many smaller examples from the UK in wood and leather. These are very popular with chess and backgammon players and can command very high prices.

More exotic examples are usually from abroard, especially India and Vizagapatham, where they used both ivory and carved sandalwood to produce fine pieces which could be used for chess, backgammon, draughts, cribbage and other period games. The interiors were normally designed to carry playing cards and counters.

The most popular examples are the games compendiums, which would contain chess and backgammon boards, chess sets, draughts and backgammon pieces, playing cards, counters, cribbage boards, scorers, pegs, indeed everything for your gaming needs.

These vary in quality from the more humble examples to something like the Royal Cabinet of Games by makers such as Leuchars, Aspreys and Betjemann.

One of the best examples I have seen was an exceptional box made for a French Marquis and if you have chance please see this on the website.