A visitor to the Board Room - the famous Leuchars of Picaddilly carton-pierre board, made to accompany the Jaques Staunton chess sets being sold in carton-pierre caskets (which fitted into the gap in the molding on the back of the board).  Suprisingly heavy when you first pick one up!

Carton-pierre (French for “stone cardboard”) is a robust form of papier-mâché developed in the 18th century. Made from pulped paper combined with whiting (powdered chalk), animal glue, and linseed oil, it is both lightweight and highly durable, enabling it to imitate wood,  stone or even bronze.