Snow-Capped Ararat Backgammon Set with Handle

Snow-Capped Ararat Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

Both summits of Ararat are left in pale wood on this Armenian backgammon set, above the church of Khor Virap and a winding river in the lid's scroll cartouche, grapes at one corner and a split pomegranate at the other. A cut-out carry handle passes through each half. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

On the reverse, the face that shows on a shelf, a chequered panel of pale and dark squares sits between two vine leaves carved in their own scroll cartouches.

The playing side is photographed with its 32 pale and dark wooden checkers set out on fleur-tipped inlaid points, an oval reading ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ under Ararat's peaks with grapes and a pomegranate inlaid in each half, side grips, corner dice recesses and brass-toned hinges. Two dice are included.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, dark brown stain with pale wood peaks and inlays, brass-toned hinges
• Carving: Mount Ararat with pale snow caps above Khor Virap and a winding river in a scroll cartouche, grapes and a pomegranate at the corners; vine-leaf cartouches flanking an inlaid chequered panel on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark; two dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip through the top edge of both halves
• Inside: pale inlaid points with fleur tips and an inlaid ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ oval with Ararat, grapes and a pomegranate in each half; side grips and corner dice recesses
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges and two front clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board with carry handle
• 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark
• Two dice

Why You'll Love It

• Snow in pale wood: the two caps of Ararat are the only untinted part of the lid, so the mountain reads first.
• River to the gate: a stream winds down through the fields to Khor Virap's church, all cut in relief.
• Armenia written inside: an inlaid ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ oval with Ararat and fruit faces each player.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Do grapevines run round the whole scene? No — the old listing had vines trailing all round, but there is one bunch of grapes with a leaf at one top corner and a pomegranate at the other, with the scroll cartouche between. The checkers and dice are photographed on the open board; the carrying bag the old copy listed is not, so it is not included here.

What about shipping and returns? Shipping is free worldwide and tracked. Every set is covered by our 30-day returns policy.

How do I look after it? Brush the carving with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. Keep the board out of direct sun and store it closed with the checkers inside.

Also known as nardi (нарды), nardy, tavla or shesh besh.