A traditional African Awale Game. This traditional African game is fun for all ages, as proven by its long history and popularity in Africa. Comes with a set of beads and a rule sheet to explain the basic game - although there are too many variations of this game to list. Enjoy some of the fun of Africa with friends or family today. 1 foot long and 2 inches wide when closed. Made in Mali, Senegal, and Gambia

It is a beautifully handcrafted raw wooden Go set with traditional eight sided legs and it comes with Go Seigen style red ash bowls and 181 black and 180 white premium (22mm x 10mm, bi-convex) stones. Price varies by board thickness available from 4 1/4" to 7 3/4". All Agathis boards are "masame" cuts or better. (Shown in the photo is a 4 1/4" thick board.)

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Its shell transformed into a checkered battlefield, this turtle patiently awaits a challenging game of chess. Hand-carved from noble kepelan wood, the board is embellished with a floriated border exquisitely detailed by Ketut Sandi. This set features a protective lid, also carved from kepelan wood. Artisan Info: The artistry of I Ketut Sandi has been featured in numerous periodicals and on Oxygen TV. He is also featured in Keepers of the Arts, a beautiful hardcover book available through Novica. "Every time I think about my childhood, I remember that what I really wanted to do was what I am doing now. But because times were hard, I tried to learn how to do other things, like painting and normal statue carving - all to be able to make ends meet. In the end, however, what finally worked for me was to make my chess tables. It is always our dreams and our belief in life that give us the best results, no matter how difficult the dream or how sore our feet get during the journey. "I started to learn how to carve in 1968 and began my full-time apprenticeship in 1981. I studied under a master carver who taught me how to be more creative, even with ordinary figures. His creativity sparked my own; it was then that I had the idea to create chess sets, not only in the Western style, but

This hand-crafted chessboard is as much a work of art as a playing surface! It features four different designs on each corner. These hand-painted corners feature Mongols playing the game of polo. All four sides feature slightly different paintings. The Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, conquered Persia in the early 13th century, and they left a lasting influence on Persian art and culture. The beauty of this board makes it an attractive object to display in your home - even if you don't play chess. Chess pieces are included. They also hand-crafted, made of varnished wood and complement the beauty of this board. Dimensions: 34.5 cm; approx. 1 cm height. The playing surface is 22 cm.

This hand-crafted chessboard is as much a work of art as a playing surface! It features four different designs on each corner. These hand-painted corners feature Mongols playing the game of polo. All four sides feature slightly different paintings. The Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, conquered Persia in the early 13th century, and they left a lasting influence on Persian art and culture. The beauty of this board makes it an attractive object to display in your home - even if you don't play chess. Chess pieces are included. They also hand-crafted, made of varnished wood and complement the beauty of this board. Dimensions: 34.5 cm; approx. 1 cm height.

This hand-crafted chessboard is as much a work of art as a playing surface! It features four different designs on each corner. These hand-painted, embossed corners feature Mongols playing the game of polo. All four sides feature slightly different paintings. The Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, conquered Persia in the early 13th century, and they left a lasting influence on Persian art and culture. The beauty of this board makes it an attractive object to display in your home - even if you don't play chess. Chess pieces are included. They also hand-crafted, made of varnished wood and complement the beauty of this board. Dimensions: 34.5 cm; approx. 1 cm height. The playing surface is 22 cm.

This little guy feels pretty sheepish without his coat. Wool you help him out, by sitting him in the tray of special solution provided? Kids and adults alike will have great fun watching as he grows fluffy, white wool all over his body. The amazing sheep will fascinate young and old. Fun gift for the person who has everything, and is amused by the unusual. Supervision for children under age 6 is advised. Non-toxic.

Chess can be a wild game at any time, believe it or not. And it gets even wilder, with this animal chess set! Pawn a zebra off on your opponent. Grab his gorilla before he sees the opening he left you. Fun and exciting safari animals replace the traditional pieces. Comes in a box with a board printed on the top, so you can herd the pieces back into their jungle home when youre done. Board 15 x 15 x 1 ¾ inches thick.

In Persian, the game of backgammon is known as takht-e-nard. Its exact origin is unclear, but it is thought to have first been played in Mesopotamia and Sumer about 5,000 years ago. The modern game seems to have developed directly from the Persians. According to H.G. Raverty, in an article entitled "The Invention of Chess and Backgammon": "Ard-Shir Babakan, son of Babak of the Sassanian dynasty of Iran-Zamin or the ancient Persian empire, invented it. The game was also sometimes called Nard-i-Shir after him" (Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, ca. 1886). The game remains popular today, and backgammon sets are more than just playing boards: the fine craftsmanship that goes into their construction makes them as enjoyable to look at as they are to play on. This vintage board was made in Sanandaj, in Kurdistan, where the best craftsmen for backgammon boards live. It comes with an attractive cloth carrying case that is made of a heavy burlap-type material. There is even a matching bag for the backgammon pieces. There is a small imperfection on one corner due to age that does not affect its overall very good condition. The inside of the backgammon board functions as a storage box for the pieces (included) as well as a decorative object to display in your home. The pieces have soft felt on the bottom. The inlay colour is natural maple wood; this is not painted on but actually inlaid into the walnut surface. The color variations are due to changes in lighting and shadow. This item would make an excellent gift for anyone who is fond of fine craftsmanship, folk arts, decorators or anyone looking for that extra touch of class for their home - even if they don't play backgammon! (But it is very easy to learn) Dimensions: 40 cm (approx. 16") square; height when closed 8.5 cm (3.25").

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Bajing means "squirrel" in Balinese, an animal cleverly depicted in the lateral adornments of this hand-crafted chess set. The table rests atop fish legs, while the 32 playing pieces are actually characters from the Ramayana, the most famous of all Hindu epics. Meticulously carved from local kepelan wood by the talented Ketut Sandi, this set makes an opulent and impressive addition to any gaming room. The chessboard folds easily for storage and travel. Artisan Info: The artistry of I Ketut Sandi has been featured in numerous periodicals and on Oxygen TV. He is also featured in Keepers of the Arts, a beautiful hardcover book available through Novica. "Every time I think about my childhood, I remember that what I really wanted to do was what I am doing now. But because times were hard, I tried to learn how to do other things, like painting and normal statue carving - all to be able to make ends meet. In the end, however, what finally worked for me was to make my chess tables. It is always our dreams and our belief in life that give us the best results, no matter how difficult the dream or how sore our feet get during the journey. "I started to learn how to carve in 1968 and began my full-time apprenticeship in 1981. I studied under a master carver who taught me how to be more