This is one of those pieces I made and genuinely couldn't stop looking at. A fully hand-carved Viking games set — board, pieces, and box — all made to order in my South Wales workshop. No two are the same. No shortcuts. No flat-pack.
Whether you want a single game or the full Jarl's Compendium with everything from Hnefatafl to horn shot glasses, this is the kind of gift that gets handed down.
If you're looking for a standalone hand-carved board without the full compendium, take a look at the Viking Chess & Hnefatafl Set.
This is a commission piece, made to order. The price shown is a 20% deposit to secure your commission — I'll be in touch within 48 hours to discuss your design, carvings, and timeline. Once your piece is complete, I'll send photos for your approval before the balance is due. Please allow 6–8 weeks from deposit to delivery.
Choose Your Set
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The Games Compendium — £325 total (£65 deposit)
Hand-carved hardwood board, carved Chess set, carved Hnefatafl set, and Draughts — all housed in a carved wooden box. Everything in one beautiful package.
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The Jarl's Compendium — £500 total (£100 deposit)
The full works. A fully customised carved oak box, Taflkast dice set (with instructions for six other medieval dice games), handmade dominoes, four horn shot glasses with carved initials, matching drinks coasters, and a set of 15th century playing cards — the first ever standardised card set in history. There is nothing else like this. An extraordinary piece for someone extraordinary.
Make It Yours
The pieces themselves can be carved to a theme of your choosing. Past commissions have included Aztec warriors, Norse mythology, and Saxon designs — if you have a theme in mind, get in touch and we'll make it happen.
Every set is designed and hand-carved by Paul at Bushman Survival.
About Hnefatafl
Tafl games (pronounced tavl), also known as Hnefatafl, are ancient Northern European strategy board games — two armies of uneven numbers, one defending a king at the centre, one attacking from the edges. They were played across Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Britain, and Ireland, and dominated the Viking Age before chess arrived in the 12th century. The original rules are lost to history. Reconstructed variants bring this brilliant game back to life.
Perfect For
- Extraordinary gifts for people who have everything
- Tabletop gaming enthusiasts
- Display pieces and heirlooms
- LARP and living history events
✔ Fully hand-carved by Paul — no two sets identical
✔ Pieces carved to your chosen theme
✔ Hardwood board, pieces, and carved box
✔ 20% deposit at checkout — balance due on approval
✔ Handmade in South Wales
