
Life Is But A Game And These Maisons Are Making The Chicest Ones
Not for sore losers and board flippers, these board games and outdoor amusements are a far cry from the sets of your childhood.
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In the digital era, board games and outdoor toys encourage conversation and conviviality, often playing a central after-dinner role in family gatherings and friendly get-togethers alike. However, these board games and quaint toys aren’t the cardboard- and plastic-laden amusements of your childhood; instead they take an approach not dissimilar to high-end furniture, with a generous use of supple leather, precious metals, and luxurious woods allowing them to double as objets d’art.
From Alexandra Llewellyn’s painstakingly crafted backgammon sets to a Tiffany & Co. silver and gold chessboard, you’ll want to keep these curios on the table long after the game is over.
L’Objet + Haas Brothers Tic-Tac-Toe Set
Quite possible the most elevated take on noughts and crosses yet, this set by L’Objet and Haas Brothers sees a mother-of-pearl board adorned with multicoloured snakes. Playing pieces take on the form of frogs and are crafted from brass.
Approx. $1940; mrporter.com
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver & 24k Gold Vermeil Chess Set
Turning the quotidian into something magical, the Tiffany & Co. Chess Set draws inspiration from the corrugated profile of cardboard and renders it in sterling silver with 24k gold vermeil accents. Crafted by master artisans in the American jeweller’s hollowware workshop, the chess set features pieces made from each precious metal, while the chessboard is outlined in wood and comes encased in a sterling silver box. Checkmate.
$220,000; tiffany.com.au
Alexandra Llewellyn Wild Card Backgammon Set
Specialising in backgammon and poker sets, Alexandra Llewellyn’s designs transform everyday play into works of art. An encounter with an elderly local in Cairo, Egypt as a child saw the duo find a shared language through backgammon, leading to Llewellyn’s love of games. Applying her fine art training to a medium adored since childhood, Alexandra Llewellyn game sets act as means of storytelling. The Alexandra Llewellyn Wild Card Backgammon Set features intricate marquetry—using sustainably sourced and dyed Sycamore, Blue Madrona Burr, Satinwood, and Black Tulipwood woods—with pieces crafted from black obsidian and red jasper.
Approx. $21,900; alexandrallewellyn.com
Giobagnara Delos Leather-Trimmed Wood & Marble Chess Set
Known for its elegant furniture and home accessories, Giobagnara applies its leather mastery to the game of the mind. Crafted from smooth wood and leather, this chessboard is topped with grey and white marble pieces, making for an elevated—and aesthetically pleasing—game.
Approx. $3529; mrporter.com
Celine Pétanque Set
A popular French pastime originating in Provence, pétanque gets a distinctly luxurious makeover in this set, with Celine branded balls and jack housed in an elegant triangular carry bag. Crafted from the maison’s Triomphe monogrammed canvas with leather trimmings, it’s a definitively stylish piece of carry.
Approx. $2140; celine.com
Hermès Cheval de Fête Poker Playing Cards
Adorned with the maison’s Cheval de Fête motif—designed by Jan Bajtlik who drew inspiration from posters of the Polish School from the 1950s to the 1970s—these vibrant poker playing cards are edged with silver and presented in the signature Hermès orange box.
$240; hermes.com
Louis Vuitton Puzzle Vivienne Animation
Destined to provide hours of entertainment—and potentially frustration—this 529-piece puzzle set reimagines a historic Louis Vuitton trunk as a dollhouse for its Vivienne mascot. Laden with colourful details, the puzzle comes in a monogrammed box with a plexiglass drawer that opens with a leather pull tab.
$1220; louisvuitton.com
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