Review: Traditional Games from Jaques Of London
I have lots of great memories of playing games from my childhood. From Monopoly around a camping table in a tent with my family to Uno in the common room during my sixth form years playing with friends. You might think that someone that works in digital marketing would prefer more digital forms of entertainment, however, having been born in the mid-80s I was part of the generation that still enjoyed playing with ‘real’ toys before technology took over.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of technology but as I have grown up I have discovered a love for more traditional toys made from materials like wood which educate as well as entertain. This is particularly true since becoming more aware of my impact on the earth and wanting to reduce my use of plastics – sadly the majority of modern toys are made of plastic. They also aren’t made to last like more traditional toys used to be.
So, you might imagine that I was very happy to get involved when I was offered the chance to review some traditional toys from Jaques of London – the oldest games company and sports manufacturer in the world.
Passed down from father to son for eight generations, Jaques has been responsible for inventing many well-known family games, such as Croquet, Ping Pong, Snakes and Ladders, Ludo, Tiddledy Winks, The Staunton Chess Set, Happy Families, Snap and many more. As a family, they have been inventing and making toys and games since 1795. They believe in the power of play and quality family time spent together which is definitely something I can get behind – especially at Christmas!
So, what did I choose to review? I went for 2 very traditional games: dominoes and chess!
Club Dominoes Double 9 set
There’s nothing better than enjoying a few games of dominoes when you are cosy by the fire on a cold winter’s evening. I have to admit that I have only played a couple of times, with my mum re-teaching the rules each time, but I have found it to be really fun and if you are particularly competitive is great for developing strategic thinking.
The game of dominoes has ancient roots with the oldest known sets dating back to c.1120 A.D. in China. It wasn’t until the 18th Century that double six dominoes appeared in Europe where, over time, the game was adapted into the form that we know today.
This set of Club Dominoes Double 9 has 55 hand-painted dominoes, each of which has a line dividing it into two squares and a number of spots in each square end. The dominoes come in a lovely handmade wooden case with a lid that slides out to reveal the pieces. Also included is a handy copy of the rules!
On picking up the pieces I found them to have a very satisfying weight to them and the dominoes have a lovely smooth finish. I also find the metallic detail on each domino very attractive. They are easy to shuffle and I look forward to playing many a game (once I have revised the rules yet again!)
Staunton Wooden Chess Set
I am not sure how old I was when I first learned how to play chess. I know my Dad knows how to play so it might have been something I learned from him when I was younger. I am by no means good at chess, but I know how the pieces move and have always found chess sets to be very beautiful, particularly wooden ones.
The complete Staunton wooden chess set is described as the perfect introduction to the world of the checked board. Jaques of London’s classic range of chess sets are historic timepieces of the elegance and sophistication of the traditional chess game.
A Staunton Chess Set is a style of chess set that was created by Jaques of London’s designer Nathaniel Cooke who asked the then UK chess master, Howard Staunton to endorse the design he had created. The characteristic pieces are known for their high-quality construction and are used as the standard competition chess set all over the world.
As the inventors of the world standard Staunton chess pieces design, Jaques have been the home of chess games for over 150 years, with the very first Staunton 2 player chess board leaving the Jaques of London workshop in 1849.
There was a constant demand for a standard model that could be used for all chess pieces due to the increased interest in chess during international and social play in the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth centuries. By the turn of the nineteenth century, the variety and styles of the traditional form had increased tremendously.
In 1924, the World Chess Federation approved the Staunton set. They selected it as their choice of chess set to use in future national and international tournaments. This style has been loved by players all over the world for more than a century.
Like the strategic side to dominoes, playing chess improves cognitive thinking, memory, tactical analysis and more.
I certainly agree that the board and pieces are attractive, well-balanced and weighted, and lovely to handle with a smooth finish and carefully crafted wooden forms. This set comes with a handy set of instructions for those who are new to the game, or, for those who want to revisit the rules. Also included is a lovely fabric bag in which to store the chess pieces which is a delightful touch.
Overall I think that both the domino and chess sets have clearly been crafted with care from quality materials and come with charming family small business touches. I certainly look forward to playing these games with my family this Christmas and reflecting on childhood memories over the festive season.
I heartily recommend Jaques of London as a fantastic wooden toys and games maker for children and those of us that are children at heart and award these two lovely sets 5 out of 5 stars.
