Traditional Backgammon and Its Place in Arab Hospitality
Coffee, conversation and the rattle of dice — the game table as the social heart of the majlis.
In the Arab world, backgammon — tawla — is rarely just a game. It is the excuse for the evening: the coffee poured, the conversation stretched, the friendly rivalry that outlasts decades.
The Beyzika, the foldable game table, grew from this culture. It lives in the living room as a beautiful inlaid table, and opens when the evening calls for cards, chess or backgammon. Furniture and pastime in one.
A handcrafted game table is also one of the most meaningful gifts for the person who hosts — it says their gatherings matter.