Gucci Backgammon Game
Alessandro Michele’s current incarnation of Gucci is an explicit nod to its 1970s heyday, when the jet set’s favorite brand produced playboy-targeted portable backgammon sets such as this one. The travel case features the brand’s signature webbing and gold-tone horse bit; the interior has a tricolor board and logo checkers featuring interlocking Gs. Price: $6,500
Jaques “In Statu Quo” Traveling Chess Set
The newfound popularity in chess of the mid-19th century coincided with the creation of the modern commuter. For the first time, a man could live in the suburbs of a city such as London and use the newly invented railway to travel to and from work each day. He needed some distractions on the journey, and travel-friendly chess sets became commonplace; they had never been viable because horse-and-carriage journeys were too bumpy on rough roads. This hinged mahogany set features a button on each side so players can freeze the game at the end of one journey and pick it up on a later train, right where they left off. Price: £1,200
Alain Delon for Maison Jansen, Backgammon Table and Chairs
Smoldering French film hunk Alain Delon, a heartthrob in the 1960s and ‘70s, had an unlikely second career as a furniture maker. He dabbled in design in partnership with a Parisian firm, Maison Jansen, on everything from tables to armchairs. No sophisticate of his ilk and era would overlook backgammon as part of the collection, and these chinoiserie-inflected chairs and table are a standout from 1972. Price: $25,000
Berluti Leather Backgammon Set or Chess Set
Berluti is known for its bespoke leather goodies. It now produces games by special order, painstakingly assembled them by hand, using traditional techniques. Choose between a handmade backgammon set, made from patinated leather, ebony, and buffalo horn, or a leather and brushed stainless steel chess set. (Look for them in boutiques; they’re currently they’re sold out online.) Prices: $10,400 for backgammon, $7,000 for chess
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.