£24,000
An extraordinary Alexandra Llewellyn design in wood marquetry that offers an exciting new way to play this timeless game, our circular Zodiac board reimagines the traditional backgammon layout, which has been rectangular for more than 5,000 years.
Please note: this item has a 12-week lead time from placing your order.
I designed the Zodiac backgammon board to fit beautifully into most interiors, with the round design lending itself perfectly to being displayed on a table. It takes just a few games to familiarise yourself with playing on a circular board, after which I promise you will be converted.
While most backgammon boards are traditionally rectangular in shape, round backgammon boards were referenced in the 13th century Libro de los Juegos (Book of Games) and have been played throughout history. The round design plays to the circular nature of the game, as well as referencing the orbits of the sun and moon.
Rather than tapering inwards from the edge of the board, Alexandra’s circular design features triangles that emanate outwards from the centre, making it the first radial backgammon set in the world.
Using woods specially selected by Alexandra because they perfectly capture their subjects, the sun and the moon, the marquetry artist inlays golden satinwood and shimmering silver ripple sycamore triangles into the blue ripple sycamore board to create the incredible, radiating design.
Delicate silver wire is coaxed into different shapes to form the 12 astrological constellations, accompanied by mother of pearl points, and inlaid by hand into the blue ripple sycamore.
Mirroring the sun and moon orbiting the stars, the semi-precious playing pieces include carved cabochons of Carnelian, a glassy, translucent orange stone, alongside cast solid silver pieces that resemble the cratered surface of the moon.
Quadrants on the round backgammon board are divided by the thin, solid grey triangles. Play starts on the right hand side of the board, following the specific coloured arrows’ direction of play – orange travels clockwise around the board, whilst blue travels anticlockwise.
Almost every aspect of the Zodiac backgammon board can be personalised. Available in different colourways and with the semi-precious playing pieces of your choice, it is also possible to inlay one of the star signs with the birthstone of its owner – a beautiful bespoke touch for the backgammon lover in your life.
