Among the eye-catching pieces sold during London Art Week (June 30-July 7) was this reversible games board made in the late 16th or early 17th century in the northern province of Portuguese India, probably Bombay. Made from teak, the 20½ x 19½in (52 x 49cm) board is veneered and inlaid with ebony, Indian rosewood and ivory, with further decoration in golden metal wire.
To one side is a traditional board for chess, draughts and backgammon, but to the other is a board for the once popular race game of goose. It employs a spiral architectural diagram marked with events and obstacles that come into play on the roll of a dice.