About Us

Hand-Carved Board Games from Armenia

CanarianCanary makes chess sets, backgammon boards and game tables in Yerevan, Armenia — cut, carved and finished by hand, one board at a time.

Backgammon is not a novelty here. Armenians call it nardi, and it is played everywhere — on balconies, in courtyards, after dinner, for hours. The boards we sell are the boards this tradition produces: solid wood, real weight, made to be played on for years rather than looked at.

Our Craft

Every board starts as solid wood — beech or walnut, and for some pieces marble, natural stone or poured epoxy resin. The borders, motifs and playing fields are carved by hand, so the depth of the cut and the run of the grain differ from one board to the next. No two come out exactly alike. That is the point.

What We Make

Compact travel sets that close around their own pieces. Folding boards with chess on the face and backgammon inside. Boards with storage drawers, epoxy resin colours, marble and stone sets, and standing tables that hold a game at playing height. Browse the chess sets, the backgammon sets or the two-in-one boards to see the range.

How We Ship

Every order ships worldwide from Yerevan — free, tracked, and packed to survive the trip. If a piece is not right for you, you have 30 days from delivery to return it.

Made in Armenia. Played worldwide.