Khatam folding chess and backgammon board, Esfahan, Iran
During Drift’s trip across Iran in 2017, it was impossible to courier or ship freight out due to sanctions so we hand-carried a few superlative chess boards out after sourcing them, from two khatam artisans in Teheran and Esfahan.
Each has a bespoke protective carry case (thank goodness!) and is approx 50cms square.
We also sourced the Khatam backgammon stones in Iran – resin covered wood.
The chess pieces were carved for us in India and this set is a Victorian pre-Staunton design hand-carved from rose- and box-woods.