January 2, 2024

Game Island Trunk: Nostaligic Games, Exemplary Craftsmanship

Game Island Trunk is full of clever compartments and contraptions that house the most beloved games.

games table trunk — The hand-painted trunks created using traditional methods such as the lost-wax technique / ©Trunks Company

Unveiled for the first time at Salon Art + Design, a prestigious New York art show held in November, this nostalgic trunk celebrates the traditional board game. Yet less a trunk and more a fully functional game table, the piece, named ‘Game Island Trunk,’ is full of clever compartments and contraptions that house the most beloved games.

The sides of the trunk open out to offer seating on either side and create a workstation for each player; a chess board has its home atop the workstation. Deeper inside, you’ll find backgammon and Ludo, as well as a hidden tower of Jenga blocks guarded by mini trunks that hold poker chips.

The trunk is an impressive display of exemplary craftsmanship — the tangible result of brothers Paritosh and Priyank Mehta’s creativity. The pair founded the Trunks Company, a Jaipur-based brand specializing in handmade, hand-painted trunks created using traditional methods such as the ‘lost-wax technique.’

games table — Many of the Trunks Company’s pieces are bespoke / ©Trunks Company

It’s a process by which a duplicate sculpture — often a metal, such as silver, gold, brass or bronze — is cast from an original sculpture. Intricate works can be achieved by this method, and the oldest example dates back to 4550–4450 BC.

Many of the Trunks Company’s pieces are bespoke and include such whimsical creations as Timeless Travels with the Taj — a re-imagination of the majestic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in trunk form.