The Board That Tells a Story: Inside the Heritage Chess & Backgammon Set
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A piece born from centuries of Damascene tradition — and the hands that still keep it alive.
There are objects you buy, and objects you inherit. The Heritage Chess & Backgammon Set from Damascus Box belongs to the second category — even when it arrives new.
Every surface of this set carries the weight of a craft that has survived empires, migrations, and the relentless march of mass production. It is not simply a game board. It is a document of a civilization, rendered in wood, mother-of-pearl, and the patience of hands that have spent decades learning to see beauty in geometry.
The Geometry of a Thousand Years
Damascene mosaic — known in Arabic as tarsia — traces its roots to the medieval workshops of the Levant, where craftsmen developed a method of inlaying thin slivers of shell, bone, and exotic wood into geometric patterns of extraordinary precision. No two pieces are identical. The patterns are not printed or stamped; they are assembled, fragment by fragment, by artisans who carry the templates in their memory.
The Heritage Chess & Backgammon Set is built on this foundation. Its surface is a composition of interlocking stars, arabesques, and tessellated borders — patterns that Islamic geometric art elevated to a form of meditation. To look closely at the board is to understand why these craftsmen are called masters: the tolerances are measured in fractions of a millimeter, and the symmetry is achieved entirely by eye and experience.
Mother of Pearl: The Material That Catches Light
The iridescent inlay that defines this set is mother-of-pearl — the inner lining of certain mollusc shells, harvested and cut into precise geometric tiles. Under natural light, it shifts between cream, silver, and the faintest blush of rose. Under candlelight, it glows.
Working with mother-of-pearl requires a specific kind of discipline. The material is brittle and unforgiving; a misplaced cut wastes a piece that cannot be recovered. The craftsman must plan the entire composition before the first fragment is placed, holding the finished image in mind while working on a surface measured in centimeters.
This is not a skill that can be learned quickly. The artisans behind Damascus Box pieces have typically spent ten to twenty years developing the precision and intuition that this work demands.
Two Games, One Object
What makes the Heritage Set particularly considered as a design object is its dual function. The board accommodates both chess and backgammon — two games with entirely different spatial logics — without compromising the visual integrity of either configuration. The interior layout is as carefully composed as the exterior mosaic, with the backgammon points inlaid in contrasting tones that complement rather than compete with the outer decoration.
The playing pieces are stored inside the board itself, which closes into a box of quiet elegance. Closed, it reads as a decorative object. Open, it becomes a game. This is the kind of considered design that distinguishes a craft object from a product.
Who Is This For?
The Heritage Chess & Backgammon Set is made for people who understand that the objects in a home carry meaning. It is a gift for a milestone — a wedding, a significant birthday, a retirement — that will be used, displayed, and eventually passed on. It is for the collector who wants something genuinely handmade in a world of convincing imitations. And it is for the player who believes that the quality of the board shapes the quality of the game.
It is also, quietly, a way of supporting a living tradition. Every set sold is a reason for a craftsman in Damascus to continue the work that his father and grandfather did before him.
Care & Longevity
A well-maintained Damascene mosaic piece will outlast its owner. A few simple practices preserve the inlay and the wood:
- Keep the set away from prolonged direct sunlight, which can fade the shell and dry the wood.
- Wipe with a soft, dry cloth — avoid moisture and chemical cleaners.
- If the wood feels dry, a very light application of natural wax (beeswax or carnauba) applied sparingly will protect the surface.
- Store closed when not in use to protect the interior felt and playing pieces.
With basic care, this is an object that improves with age — the wood deepens, the shell develops a patina, and the piece acquires the particular gravity of something that has been lived with.
Explore the Heritage Chess & Backgammon Set
The Heritage Chess & Backgammon Set is available now at Damascus Box. Each piece is handcrafted to order and ships worldwide.
View the Heritage Chess & Backgammon Set →
Read more from our series on Damascene craftsmanship: