Where are the beautiful (and peaceful) wooden games of yesteryear?!

I always wonder where those beautiful, quiet wooden games of the "pre-digital" era went. Backgammon games, for example, played for hours on the beach at Eforie Sud by my dad with some ad hoc friend made on the occasion of waking up at 6.00 am to grab a seat on the sand. From the way they played - full of energy and vociferation - you got the impression that there was nothing more important on the beach at that hour than their game. And yet it's a peaceful game, with nothing more going on than "6-6, gate-in" and maximum "I gave you Tuesday. Now I'm talking to my nephew, who in his own way is the embodiment of pacifism, who tells me (laughing heartily at my slightly changed face at the absurdity of the situation) how he's going to eliminate who-knows-who in who-knows-what game and how, if he manages to "buy" a stronger weapon, he'll eliminate them all. Don't you think nostalgically of those quiet games? Let's remember a few of them.

Box of tables was famous. It was also sold everywhere, in the mountains or by the sea, boxes made by local craftsmen. Inside it had the specific design for the game of backgammon, and on the outside it was chessboard.

In the box, mixed together, were chess pieces and chess pieces, beautifully crafted and polished to be pleasing to the touch. There were craftsmen showing their skill with the chess pieces, but there was also a skilled craftsman on the backgammon pieces. Chess pieces, however, left the imagination free and you could find a game where the pieces were more elaborate, more special. It was a real joy to come across something like this.

With the same props could play lady. Chess pieces were used on the chessboard. There were also games of checkers, but these were less common.

Then it was the domino. Beautiful wooden boxes and rectangular pieces with various numbers inlaid just like on the dice. Unfortunately, I can't remember how to play the game. It was more than just stringing the pieces together and knocking them down according to the "domino principle". As far as I remember it was a full-blown game, played by a minimum of 2 people, where you would collect points.

I understand that it is also from the past that the embarrassment comes. I have to admit I only found out about him recently, but I liked the way he looked and the simple but clever way he played. Some time ago, Călin from Massive Oak about the game made byNicu Rosioru for a friend. It was his birthday and knowing him to be passionate, Călin chose to give him a personalised jenga game. It turned out really well and the friend was delighted.

I first heard about Nicu Rosioru from Calin, then I met him at the fair. With the hustle and bustle there, we didn't have much time to talk. A few days ago, he came to Bucharest to visit a possible client (Nicu is from Râmnicu Vâlcea) and he stopped by. He also came with some jenga games he made. You don't know how much work goes into such a game! Each piece is hand sanded and the edges are chamfered. Plus the box is made so that the wood design continues down the sides. I really liked the way they are made and the fact that they are finished with natural oil.

One of the games particularly appealed to me. It looked patinated, but he told me it was old wood from a 100 year old building. The patina was natural, the pores of the wood marked by the passage of time. To make it look like that Nicu very carefully removed the top layer (it's just under a mm). He was careful not to go deeper into the wood so as not to lose the effect. But he succeeded.

It came with boxes of games of several kinds. It was really interesting to identify the wood. I have to admit I didn't manage to identify chestnutbut at cherry it came out. The wood used is of the highest quality, so the games look more than just... games.

Although he also makes furniture, Nicu likes to make games. In addition to jenga, he has also made wooden "x and 0" games.

He's really passionate about wooden games and told me he has lots of ideas and wants to try to make them all. I hope he succeeds, because the ones so far have turned out really well.