When London-based artist Alexandra Llewellyn was a child, she visited her grandmother in Egypt. Wandering the streets of Cairo, she fell into a game of backgammon with a toothless man 10 times her age. They couldn’t speak to each other, but the game became a common language. In 2010, Llewellyn launched her eponymous line of bespoke backgammon sets. Using a technique called marquetry, the artist creates a board made of wood pieces that are cut, pressed, fit together like a puzzle, then hand-lacquered until glass smooth. Commissions can include specific designs to reflect a client’s taste, messages inlaid in the wood, or handwritten memories embossed in leather. alexandrallewellyn.com
“I am forever inspired by how games bring us together. No matter what language you speak, no matter the difference in age or background, you can connect over a game of backgammon.” — Alexandra Llewellyn
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