Cartier Playing Cards

There’s no better way to wind down after a week of work than with a well-designed antique, new or vintage game.

A beautifully designed contemporary or vintage game can introduce an element of fun to any room in your home — and it doesn’t have to be limited to the game room. The right mid-century or antique chess set or backgammon board can mean high stakes as well as high style for any entertainment room or cheery home bar area, with works from the period proving as pivotal to relaxation as they are eye-catching statement pieces.

While trends come and go, a unique vintage games table never goes out of style. Chess has an enduring and universal appeal, of which we were reminded following 2020’s successful Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit, while classic tric-trac tables are showstoppers in a secretive way, affording party guests a treasury of gaming under the guise of a fine neoclassical writing desk. But in shopping for the latter, strategize your next move carefully — an 18th-century tric-trac table designed in the Louis XVI style can get costly. Gambling games are always on trend, and, in a pinch, you can turn your standard console table or coffee table into a platform for roulette, cards or craps to introduce a little cheeky fun at your next soiree.

Table games such as pool, foosball and Ping-Pong — which is getting a makeover in the hands of today’s designers — can transform your already winning game room, while integrating games or games tables in any corner of your home can support your effort to make every bit of your space more warm and inviting. Browse a vast collection of antique, new and vintage games today on 1stDibs.