Backgammon Laquered Black

Black makes its move before you do

This is the sort of backgammon set that makes putting your phone aside surprisingly easy. The lacquered PRINTWORKS Backgammon in black turns the classic two-player board game into a graphic object designed to live on display rather than disappear into a cupboard. On the outside, black, cream and warm beige form a striking geometric zigzag pattern; open the case and the restrained palette continues across the playing board. Black and white acrylic counters, coordinating dice and gold-coloured hinges complete the composition. The playing board is made from wood and acrylic, with an outer box made from paperboard. Closed, the PRINTWORKS Backgammon measures 24 × 31 × 5 cm and weighs 1.8 kg, giving it enough presence for a coffee table, sideboard or shelf without taking over the room. Dedicated compartments along both sides keep the dice and accessories in place. Once the match is over, simply close it and leave it where it is. Tidying up has rarely required so little effort.

A little luck. A rather good plan helps.

Backgammon has always relied on an appealing balance between chance and strategy. Two players move their counters around the board according to the roll of the dice, aiming to bear off all their pieces before their opponent. Along the way, opposing counters can be hit, routes blocked and positions protected, turning a simple roll into a surprisingly tactical decision. The basic rules are approachable, while the possibilities reveal themselves over countless games. It is what makes backgammon equally suited to a spontaneous round after dinner and an evening in which “one last game” proves to be a fairly flexible concept. PRINTWORKS gives that familiar ritual a contemporary setting with a lacquered board that feels considered enough to remain part of the room between matches.

Analogue suddenly feels rather current

PRINTWORKS was founded in Stockholm in 2017 by Annette and Patrik, inspired by a desire to bring slower, shared moments back into everyday life. Instead of scrolling through thousands of photographs, open an album. Instead of disappearing into separate feeds, gather around a board. The brand takes familiar analogue objects and reimagines them for contemporary homes, creating photo albums, backgammon and chess sets, card games, memory games and gifts that are designed to stay visible. This black Backgammon captures that philosophy particularly well: a game with centuries of history presented through a crisp, modern graphic language. It is an approach that sits naturally with LIVOSY too. We like objects that have a purpose, add something to the atmosphere and certainly do not need to spend their lives at the back of a cupboard.

Your coffee table has found a new player

With its combination of black, cream and beige, this version feels calmer and more graphic than the more colourful brown PRINTWORKS Backgammon. Its strong pattern creates a deliberate accent while remaining easy to place alongside pale or dark timber, glass, metal, ceramics and natural textiles. Pair it with a PRINTWORKS chess set, card game, memory game or one of the brand’s distinctive photo albums to build a collection of analogue favourites worth keeping within reach. It also makes a thoughtful gift for a keen backgammon player, a design-minded host or anyone unlikely to get excited about an ordinary game box. A board game to play, display and leave out afterwards – and quite possibly the beginning of a small analogue rebellion against screen time.