Coat of Arms, Script and Churches Armenian Backgammon Set, Carved

Coat of Arms, Script and Churches Armenian Backgammon Set, Carved — Handmade in Armenia

Հայաստան runs across the top of this carved Armenian backgammon set in flowing Armenian script, with the coat of arms filling a beaded roundel on the left and a group of domed churches with a bell tower standing on a cobbled hill under Ararat on the right, and a cut-out carry handle through the top edge between them. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, 30 × 60 cm folded, handmade in Armenia.

The eagle and lion of the arms, the letters and the church domes are relief over a stippled ground; the cobbles below are cut stone by stone. On the other outer face of the wooden backgammon board a chequered panel of pale and dark squares sits between two panels of leaf scrollwork.

Open the board and each player has the national arms in front of them, inlaid in light wood at the centre of the dark half, ringed by light points with arrow tips; the handle bars are rope-carved and the corners hold dice recesses. Thirty-two wooden checkers and two dice complete the set.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, dark stained with pale wood inlays, brass hinges and clasps
• Carving: coat of arms of Armenia in a beaded roundel, Հայաստան in Armenian script, domed churches and bell tower on a cobbled hill under Ararat; chequered panel between leaf scrolls on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, dark and pale; dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip with a rope-carved bar through the top edge of both halves
• Inside: pale inlaid points with arrow tips and an inlaid coat of arms in each half; corner dice recesses
• Hardware: brass hinges and two side clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

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

Why You'll Love It

• Named in Armenian: Հայաստան cut in script across the lid, no translation needed.
• Arms and churches: the national emblem on one side, domes under Ararat on the other.
• Arms inside too: inlaid in pale wood on each half of the board.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Which churches are carved? A cluster of domed churches with a bell tower on a cobbled rise below Ararat — they are not lettered, so we describe them rather than name them. The arms, script and buildings are relief over a stippled ground; the arms and points inside are pale wood set into the dark beech.

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 surfaces 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.