Tawl Bwrdd, 12" x 12" board

Tawl Bwrdd is the Welsh name for a tafl game with 11 x 11 squares, described, with tantalisingly incomplete rules of play, by Robert ap Ifan in 1587 in the Laws of Hywel Dda (p.4 Peniarth ms. now in the Welsh National Library).

Though this variant of the game can be securely dated to a specific region it is probable that boards of varying sizes were used at any one time and in the same place throughout northern Europe during the period of the tafl games' popularity. In Britain tafl seems to have given way to chess and other games by the sixteenth century, though it continued to be played in Scandinavia until relatively recently.

Made from quarter-sawn oak board, with hardwood playing pieces, which are supplied in a leather pouch. Comes with rules and historical notes to the full range of tafl games.

• Oak board 12" x 12"
• Playing pieces of beech wood (7/8" diameter)
• One king; 12 white pieces; 24 black pieces
• White pieces are the natural wood colour; coloured pieces stained
• Pieces supplied in a leather pouch

Historic Period or Date:

• c.9th to 16th century

Materials and Special Features:

• Board of 3/4" quarter-sawn oak
• Leather board and pouch
• Beech wood playing pieces

Dimensions:

• Board: c.12" x 12"; squares 1" diameter
• Playing pieces: 7/8" diameter