Board games, chess, backgammon

Board games, chess sets, and backgammon sets: works of art, collectibles, and decorative items

At the intersection of art, entertainment, and interior design, theboard games, chess, and backgammon For centuries, they have held a special place in homes. Objects that bring joy and foster a sense of togetherness, they can also become true collector’s items, reflecting a craftsman’s skill, the refinement of an era, or a designer’s imagination.

From antique carved-wood games to contemporary marble chess sets, from leather backgammon sets to decorative board games made of brass, bronze, mother-of-pearl, or semi-precious stones, these objects combine function, aesthetics, and history. They naturally find their place in a library, living room, office, game room, or on a coffee table, where they can be displayed as true decorative pieces.

Galerie Martynoff Paris offers a selection ofAntique, vintage, modern, and contemporary board games, selected for their quality, originality, materials, and decorative appeal. Chess sets, chessboards, backgammon, checkers, dominoes, card games, dice games, game sets, and other board games come together to create a world where the joy of playing meets the joy of collecting.

Chess sets and chessboards

Thechess set is probably one of the most iconic strategy games in the world. Over the centuries, the chessboard and its pieces have inspired countless artistic interpretations, ranging from traditional wooden models to the most sculptural creations of contemporary design.

A chess set can be made from a wide variety of materials:solid wood, precious wood, exotic wood, ebony, rosewood, mahogany, walnut, boxwood, maple, oak, olive wood, as well as bronze, brass, silver-plated metal, silver, aluminum, steel, glass, crystal, ceramic, porcelain, resin, and composite materials.

The most sophisticated models may also use themarble, onyx, alabaster, quartz, lapis lazuli, malachite, agate, mother-of-pearl, bone, or other natural materials and decorative stones.

The chessboard can be crafted using particularly elaborate woodworking techniques: wood marquetry, inlays, veneering, a checkerboard pattern made of contrasting wood species, or a combination of wood and metal. The squares can also be made of two different types of marble, polished stone, glass, or contemporary materials.

The pieces themselves are sometimes like little sculptures. The king, queen, bishops, knights, rooks, and pawns can take on traditional forms or be transformed into historical, military, mythological, or fantastical figures.

Some chess sets are designed as much to be admired as to be used. Placed on a coffee table, a desk, or a console table, they become truedecorative and collectible items.

Backgammon: Elegance and Tradition

Thebackgammon It is one of the oldest board games still played today. Combining chance, calculation, and strategy, it also has a particularly strong aesthetic identity.

Backgammon boards come in a wide variety of materials and finishes. Traditional models can be made of wood and marquetry, while luxury designs often featureleather, sheathed leather, embossed leather, velvet, felt, precious wood, mother-of-pearl, brass, bronze, marble, or decorative stones.

Game boards can be foldable or built into rigid cases. Some models come in the form of an elegant carrying case for storing game pieces, dice, and accessories.

Color contrast plays an essential role in the aesthetics of backgammon. Black and white, brown and ivory, red and black, blue and white, green and cream, beige and chocolate, or even multicolored combinations allow for the creation of pieces that are as decorative as they are functional.

Aluxury backgammon It can therefore fit just as well in a classic interior as in a decidedly contemporary decor.

Checkers and Board Games

The game of checkers shares the checkerboard layout with chess. Its simple design makes it possible to create particularly elegant pieces.

Antique checkerboards can be made of marquetry, painted wood, carved wood, or veneer, while modern and contemporary designs may combine glass, metal, resin, marble, or composite materials.

Some boards are reversible, allowing you to combine several games in a single set: chess and checkers, backgammon and checkers, or even several traditional board games.

These multifunctional objects were particularly popular in salons, libraries, and private social circles, where games were an important social activity.

Dominoes, dice, and small board games

TheAntique and Collectible Dominoes are also sought after for their decorative appeal. Presented in their original boxes or in specially designed cases, they can make delightful curiosities.

The pieces can be made of wood, bone, mother-of-pearl, ivory substitute, resin, Bakelite, or contemporary materials. The cases, meanwhile, can be made of precious wood, leather, metal, laminated cardboard, or marquetry.

Dice sets also come in a wide variety of shapes and materials. Dice made of wood, metal, stone, glass, or resin may be accompanied by leather cups or decorative boxes.

These small games, which are often easy to display on a bookshelf or coffee table, add a playful and unique touch to the decor.

Card Games and Accessories

Card games have given rise to many decorative accessories:card boxes, cases, pouches, dispensers, card holders, and game tables.

The boxes can be lined with leather, covered in fabric, made of precious wood, or embellished with details in gold, brass, silver, or mother-of-pearl.

Card games and their accessories fit perfectly into an elegant home, an office, a library, or a space dedicated to leisure activities.

Box sets containing cards, dice, tokens, and other accessories are particularly popular as decorative items or gifts.

A variety of high-quality materials

The richness of both historical and contemporary board games stems largely from the diversity of materials used to make them.

Thewood remains one of the most important historical materials. Oak, walnut, mahogany, rosewood, ebony, boxwood, maple, olive, and various exotic woods can be used to create warm and refined designs.

Themarquetry adds an extra dimension by combining several types of wood to create checkerboard patterns, geometric designs, frames, or figurative motifs.

Themarble and decorative stones give chessboards and board games a particularly sculptural appearance. White, black, green, or veined marble, onyx, alabaster, malachite, lapis lazuli, agate, and other stones can be arranged into spectacular designs.

Themetal allows for a wide variety of designs depending on the techniques used. Bronze, brass, copper, aluminum, steel, chrome-plated metal, silver-plated metal, and gold-plated metal can be polished, patinated, engraved, or sculpted.

Theglass and crystal They add a sense of transparency and lightness. They are particularly well-suited for modern and contemporary games, where the game board itself can become a geometric sculpture.

Theceramics and porcelain These, in turn, make it possible to produce pieces that are painted, glazed, or hand-decorated.

Theleather It is particularly common in backgammon sets, gift boxes, and accessories. Whether smooth, textured, embossed, or colored, it provides a luxurious finish that feels pleasant to the touch.

Themother-of-pearl, used as inlay or in certain game pieces, offers subtle shimmer that highlights the object’s precious nature.

Finally, theresin, Plexiglas, acrylic, and composite materials have enabled modern and contemporary designers to conceive new shapes and new color combinations.

Classic and Historical Styles

Board games can reflect the major periods in the history of the decorative arts.

Stylish ItemsLouis XIV They readily favor a majestic aesthetic, precious woods, and sophisticated decor.

StyleLouis XV is characterized by a pursuit of elegance and refinement, with softer lines and decorative motifs inspired by 18th-century decorative arts.

StyleLouis XVI reflects a return to more rigorous geometry, symmetry, and references to antiquity.

Stylish toys and accessoriesEmpire may use dark woods combined with gilded bronze and motifs inspired by Greco-Roman antiquity.

In the 19th century, the stylesThe Restoration, Charles X, Napoleon III, and the Historicists result in particularly decorative objects, often characterized by the richness of their materials and ornamentation.

Art Nouveau and Art Deco

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, theArt Nouveau It introduced organic lines, botanical motifs, and a new approach to the decorative arts. Carved wood, marquetry, and wrought metal could then transform play accessories into true works of art.

Starting in the 1920s, theArt Deco Instead, it emphasizes geometry, contrasts, and precious materials. Ebony, rosewood, shagreen, lacquer, chrome-plated metal, ivory-colored plastic, glass, and marble come together in elegant compositions.

Art Deco chess sets, backgammon sets, and game sets are particularly well-suited for interiors seeking a sophisticated, graphic aesthetic.

20th-Century Design: Vintage and Contemporary

The 20th century brought about a profound transformation in the aesthetics of games.

The 1940s and 1950s celebrated clean lines and woodworking. Thedesign from the 1950s and 1960sIt then explores more graphic and functional silhouettes.

The 1970s saw the widespread introduction of new materials: chrome-plated metal, Plexiglas, resin, tinted glass, and bold colors.

The designs from the 1980s and 1990s continue this exploration by playing with geometric shapes, volumes, and artistic references.

Today, theContemporary, stylish chess sets can be viewed as true sculptures. Some designers radically reinterpret traditional pieces, while others focus on the purity of the materials.

A contemporary marble chessboard, a leather-covered backgammon set, or a sculptural metal board game can thus become a focal point of the decor.

Figurative, Historical, and Thematic Games

Some chess sets break away from traditional designs to feature characters.

The pieces may evokearmies, kings and queens, knights, emperors, mythological figures, ancient civilizations, historical events, or imaginary worlds.

Each piece then becomes a small sculpture, and together they can form a veritable miniature collection.

These figurative sculptures are particularly interesting when they are handmade, carved, cast, weathered, or painted.

They appeal to chess enthusiasts as well as collectors of sculptures and curiosities.

Games as Decorative Items

Games are no longer necessarily put away after use. A beautiful chess set or backgammon set can remain on display in a home at all times.

On acoffee table, a chess set immediately adds visual interest. On a desk, it evokes thoughtfulness and strategy. In a library, a game set naturally complements a collection of books and art objects.

In a contemporary interior, a marble or metal chessboard can serve as a true work of art. In a classic decor, an antique marquetry chess set adds warmth and authenticity.

Large-format pieces can even become key elements in the design of a living room, a game room, a hotel, a private club, or a reception area.

Vintage Games and Collectibles

Avintage board game has a history that goes beyond its mere function.

Signs of wear, patina, past restorations, and minor variations resulting from handcrafted production often add to the charm of these objects.

For collectors, several factors may be important: period, origin, manufacturer, designer, quality of craftsmanship, rarity, condition, and the presence of original parts.

A complete set that has retained all its accessories may be of particular interest, as may a set with a documented provenance or one attributed to a renowned artisan.

Antique games can also shed light on the social customs of a particular era and on how leisure activities were integrated into the decorative arts.

Handcrafted Production and Expertise

Behind some games lie true crafts.

Cabinetmakers, marquetry artists, sculptors, bronze casters, leatherworkers, glassmakers, ceramicists, and other specialized artisans may all contribute to the creation of a single piece.

A marquetry chessboard requires great precision to achieve a perfectly even checkerboard pattern. A carved chess set requires meticulous work to ensure that each piece has its own distinct character while maintaining the overall harmony of the set.

The production of a leather-covered backgammon set also requires perfect mastery of cutting, assembly, stitching, and finishing.

This artisanal aspect explains why some games go far beyond their original purpose to become trueart and design objects.

An original and elegant gift idea

A beautiful game also makes for a particularly elegant gift idea.

A wooden chess set, a marble chessboard, a leather backgammon set, a set of dominoes, or a deck of cards presented in an elegant box can be the perfect gift for a birthday, wedding, housewarming, Christmas, or any other occasion.

Unlike a simple decorative object, a game is meant to be played with, shared, and passed down. It creates memories and can be passed down through generations.

An antique toy or a high-quality contemporary creation can thus become a true family heirloom.

Collecting Chess and Backgammon Sets

The game collection can be organized around a variety of themes.

Some collectors are looking forAntique chessboards, while others prefer carved pieces, figurative games, designer creations, luxury backgammon sets, or games made from a specific material.

It is also possible to build a collection centered on a specific era: the 18th century, the 19th century, Art Deco, the 1950s, the 1970s, or contemporary design.

Materials can also serve as a unifying theme: games made of precious wood, marble, bronze, glass, or decorative stones.

This diversity makes board games a particularly rich field for collecting, where history, craftsmanship, and design come together.

Vintage and contemporary board games at Galerie Martynoff Paris

Galerie Martynoff Paris selectsboard games, chess sets, chessboards, and backgammon sets for their aesthetic quality, decorative appeal, craftsmanship, and originality.

Our selection includes antique, vintage, modern, and contemporary pieces: wooden and marquetry chessboards, carved chess sets, marble and natural stone boards, leather backgammon sets, decorative games, cases, and accessories.

Every object has its own unique character. Some captivate with their patina and history, while others do so with the elegance of their materials or the modernity of their design.

From traditional games to true works of art, our selection appeals to gamers as well as enthusiasts of antiques, home decor, furniture, and design.

Because a game of chess or backgammon can be botha source of entertainment, a decorative item, a sculpture, and a collector's item, , Galerie Martynoff Paris offers pieces that blend seamlessly into both classic and contemporary interiors.

Whether it's aAn antique chessboard made of precious wood, a bronze chess set, a marble chessboard, a leather backgammon set, a vintage game set, or a contemporary design, each piece reflects, in its own way, the ongoing dialogue between play, art, and design.

Check out our selection ofVintage and contemporary board games, chess sets, backgammon sets, and decorative collectible games, selected with the discerning eye and high standards of Galerie Martynoff Paris.