Armenian Backgammon Set - Coat of Arms and Map of Armenia

Armenian Backgammon Set - Coat of Arms and Map of Armenia

One of these is what Armenia says about itself. The other is what is actually there. On this handmade Armenian backgammon set the carver put both on the same lid: the coat of arms — eagle and lion braced around the shield of Ararat — and beside it the map, that unmistakable shape, cut in relief with the borders followed by hand. Scrollwork runs around the pair and out to the carved border of the board.

For anyone living away, the map is usually the part they touch. It is a small country and everybody who has left knows its outline the way they know a face, which is why this hand-carved wooden backgammon board tends to end up somewhere visible rather than in a cupboard. Then the clasps come open, the bronze hinges swing, and the full 23.6" / 60 cm playing field takes over the evening. Carry it in by the cut-out handle, set it between two chairs, and the conversation will get to Armenia long before the game is finished.

What's Included

• Backgammon board with bronze hinges, clasps and a cut-out carry handle
• 32 checkers made from beech and walnut wood
• A pair of dice and a carrying bag

Specifications

• Folded: 30 x 60 cm / 11.8 x 23.6"
• Open playing field: 60 x 60 cm / 23.6 x 23.6"
• Weight: 5 kg / 11 lb
• Wood: solid beech, with bronze hinges and clasps
• Handmade in Armenia

Why It Stands Out

• The coat of arms of Armenia and the map of the country, both hand-carved in relief
• Scrollwork cut across the lid and out to the carved border
• Folds shut on bronze hinges and travels by its own cut-out carry handle
• A handmade Armenian backgammon board that reads as a keepsake and plays like a proper set

A Gift For Anyone Who Left

Diaspora families buy this kind of board first, and they always buy it for the map. Give it to someone whose kitchen is a long way from Yerevan; they will put a finger on the outline before they ever pick up the dice.