Shamsaddin Salehi, 53, has been a craftsmen working with wood in Sine (Sanandaj), Iran for 40 years. Salehi graduated from an art college but rather than head out on his own, he learned the woodworking craft from his older brother and has taken it to new heights. Using sea-buckthorn, a shrub, and walnut wood, Salehi makes a number of products. His specialty, however, are backgammon sets, some of which as valuable as $400 and prized as heirlooms. "In the history of woodworking, Sine is number one. A backgammon set that is made properly with good material can last more than 100 years," he said. "I was brought a backgammon set for repair recently. It looked almost new and it was inscribed '1915 souvenir of Sine'."
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