Armenia and Russia Coats of Arms Carved Backgammon Set with Handle

Armenia and Russia Coats of Arms Carved Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

The Armenian coat of arms fills an oval on one face of this carved Armenian backgammon set, with ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ lettered beside it and the walls and domes of Etchmiadzin rising in front of Ararat's pale-capped peaks; on the other face the Russian double-headed eagle sits in a roundel beside Россия in flowing script and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Dark-stained beech, 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, 30 × 60 cm / 11.8″ × 23.6″ closed, handmade in Armenia.

Both faces are worked over a stippled ground with leafy scrolls between the emblems and the buildings, and a cut-out carry handle sits in the top edge of the wooden backgammon board. Inside, the dark field carries pale inlaid points with arrowhead tips, the Armenian arms drawn in one half and the Russian eagle in the other, carved scalloped rails and a long recess in each corner for the dice.

It ships with wooden checkers in dark and pale and a pair of dice; brass hinges and a clasp on each side close it.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood in a dark stained finish, with pale inlaid points inside; brass hinges and clasps
• Carving: Armenian coat of arms, ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ lettering, Etchmiadzin and Mount Ararat on one face; Russian double-headed eagle, Россия lettering and Christ the Saviour cathedral on the other; leafy scrolls on stippled grounds; pale inlaid points and both arms inside
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, dark and pale; dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip in the top edge
• Hardware: brass hinges and two side clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding backgammon board with carry handle
• 32 wooden checkers, dark and pale
• Dice

Why You'll Love It

• Two countries, one case: Armenia's arms and cathedral on one face, Russia's eagle and cathedral on the other.
• Lettered in the wood: ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ in Armenian capitals, Россия in Cyrillic script.
• Ararat behind Etchmiadzin: the twin peaks carved with pale caps above the cathedral walls.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the carving real? Yes — the eagles, the lettering, the cathedral domes and the mountain all stand in relief over a stippled ground worked point by point, and Ararat's caps are pale wood set into the dark lid. The points and arms inside are pale inlay and incised line, not print.

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? Dust the relief with a soft brush and wipe the flat wood 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.