Guides
Best Luxury Backgammon Sets – Pilardi’s Curated Collection
Looking for a backgammon board that feels like art? Here are five of the most striking luxury sets Pilardi offers, and who each one is for.
1. Compact Khatam & Tazhib Chess & Backgammon Set – 34 cm
The Compact Khatam & Tazhib Chess & Backgammon Set is a 34 cm reversible walnut board that combines Khatam marquetry with Tazhib-inspired hand-painted ornament and mother-of-pearl details. It suits collectors who want a piece that sits on a side table without crowding the room, and it works just as well as a gift.
Because the board is reversible, you get a full chess layout on one side and a backgammon field on the other, so there is no second board to store. The board measures 34 × 34 × 5.5 cm with a 23 × 23 cm chess playing area, and the protective hard case measures 43.5 × 23.5 × 8.5 cm, so it slides easily onto a narrow shelf. The set arrives with wooden chess pieces, Khatam backgammon checkers, dice, and a hard case with a handle and locks.
2. Hand-Painted Polo Chess & Backgammon Set
The Hand-Painted Polo Chess & Backgammon Set is a one-of-one piece, hand-painted with a lively polo scene of riders, horses and landscape details arranged around the chess surface. The artwork turns the board into a narrative tableau, which makes it a good fit for design lovers who want a decorative object that is still meant to be played. The reversible layout mirrors the compact set, but the full-size board gives a more spacious playing area: 49.5 × 49.5 × 6.5 cm, with a 28 × 28 cm chess playing area and a 54 × 29 × 9 cm case.
The walnut board carries the painted work, and a clear protective resin finish sits over the artwork to give it depth. The set includes chess pieces, backgammon checkers and a protective hard case. Cleaning is simple: a soft, dry cloth is all it needs.
What Khatam Marquetry Actually Is
Khatam, or khatam-kari, is a Persian inlay technique. Fine rods of wood, bone and brass are bundled together, sliced into thin sections, then hand-assembled into repeating geometric patterns. Some pieces also carry mother-of-pearl, which adds light and contrast. Everything you see on these boards is built up from those small assembled elements rather than printed or stencilled onto the surface, which is why no two boards come out identical.
3. Khatam Chess & Backgammon Set – Black Edition
The Khatam Chess & Backgammon Set – Black Edition uses a three-tone Khatam composition in black, red and gold. The chess side is a graphic black and gold surface framed by repeated Khatam patterns and fine decorative borders. That contrast makes it a strong centrepiece for a modern office or a classic library, and it suits collectors who want dramatic visual impact.
The backgammon side opens into a deeper red, black and gold arrangement, with pointed fields and layered borders, so the two faces of the board feel genuinely different. The inlay is assembled by hand from wood, bone and brass into star and geometric patterns, and a clear protective resin finish sits over the whole surface. The board measures 49.5 × 49.5 × 6.5 cm and the case 54 × 29 × 9 cm.
For more luxury pieces, explore our Luxury Chess & Backgammon Boards collection.
4. Khatam Chess & Backgammon Set – Golden Edition
The Khatam Chess & Backgammon Set – Golden Edition covers the whole board in precise geometric Khatam marquetry over a solid walnut structure. It suits anyone who wants a piece that sits between traditional Persian craft and a contemporary interior. One point worth being clear about: there is no gold leaf on this board. The warm golden tones come from the inlay itself, which is assembled from wood, bone, brass and mother-of-pearl.
Both playing surfaces are fully inlaid, and the repeated micro-patterns give the board a balanced, architectural look from either side. A clear protective resin finish deepens the contrast of the marquetry. The board measures 49.5 × 49.5 × 6.5 cm, the case 54 × 29 × 9 cm, and the chess playing area 28 × 28 cm. Chess pieces, backgammon checkers and a protective hard case are included.
5. Khatam Chess & Backgammon Set – Turquoise Edition
The Khatam Chess & Backgammon Set – Turquoise Edition pairs Khatam marquetry accents with turquoise Tazhib-inspired painting, a combination that reads well in bright, modern spaces. The chess side is framed by turquoise ornamental motifs and geometric detail, while the backgammon side is more decorative still, with painted medallions and pointed fields.
The turquoise motifs are applied by hand, so each board carries its own brushwork, and the Khatam accents are made from wood, bone and brass assembled into fine geometric patterns. The board shares its dimensions with the Black and Golden editions, 49.5 × 49.5 × 6.5 cm, so the format is consistent across the full-size range. The palette is deliberately bright, and it will read as a strong accent rather than a quiet one in a very dark room.
How to Choose the Right Luxury Set
- Consider space: the compact 34 cm board against the full-size 49.5 cm boards.
- Pick a palette that matches your interior: black, red and gold, warm golden tones, or turquoise.
- Think about usage: mostly display, or regular play.
- Decide between pure marquetry, hand-painted ornament, or a board that combines the two.
| Set | Board | Case | Chess playing area | Decoration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Khatam & Tazhib – 34 cm | 34 × 34 × 5.5 cm | 43.5 × 23.5 × 8.5 cm | 23 × 23 cm | Khatam marquetry, Tazhib painting, mother-of-pearl |
| Hand-Painted Polo | 49.5 × 49.5 × 6.5 cm | 54 × 29 × 9 cm | 28 × 28 cm | Hand-painted polo scene |
| Khatam – Black Edition | 49.5 × 49.5 × 6.5 cm | 54 × 29 × 9 cm | 28 × 28 cm | Khatam marquetry in black, red and gold |
| Khatam – Golden Edition | 49.5 × 49.5 × 6.5 cm | 54 × 29 × 9 cm | 28 × 28 cm | Full Khatam marquetry, warm golden tones |
| Khatam – Turquoise Edition | 49.5 × 49.5 × 6.5 cm | 54 × 29 × 9 cm | 28 × 28 cm | Khatam accents with turquoise Tazhib painting |
FAQ
Which set is best for a small apartment?
The Compact Khatam & Tazhib 34 cm set fits best in tight spaces. The board is 34 × 34 × 5.5 cm and the case is 43.5 × 23.5 × 8.5 cm, and it still gives you full chess and backgammon play.
Do these boards require special maintenance?
No. The surfaces are sealed under a clear protective resin finish, so a soft, dry cloth is all you need for dust. Do not use solvents, alcohol or abrasive cleaners, and there is no need for oil, wax or polish. Keep the board out of direct sunlight, away from prolonged humidity and heat sources, and store it in its case when it is not in use.
What is included with each set?
Every board is reversible, with chess on one side and backgammon on the other, and is supplied with chess pieces, backgammon checkers and a protective hard case. The compact 34 cm set also includes dice.
Are the boards one-of-one pieces?
Yes. Every set listed here is handcrafted as a unique, one-of-one item, so no two boards are exactly alike.
Where are they made, and where do they ship from?
Every piece is handcrafted in Isfahan and curated in Paris. Orders ship worldwide from Paris.
Conclusion
If you want a board that doubles as art, start with the Compact Khatam & Tazhib set when space is tight, or move up to the full-size Golden, Black or Turquoise editions when you want scale and a stronger colour statement. Each one is handcrafted in Isfahan, curated in Paris, and ships worldwide.
