Ararat and Khor Virap Backgammon Set with Carved Landscape

Ararat and Khor Virap Backgammon Set with Carved Landscape — Handmade in Armenia

Khor Virap sits on its hill at the right of this Armenian backgammon set, walls and belfry in relief, the twin peaks of Ararat behind with snow inlaid in pale wood — road and fields converging towards them under a stippled sky, inside a rope-rimmed arched frame on the wavy-edged lid. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

Turned over, the board shows a chequered panel of pale inlaid squares stamped with small flowers against the dark ground, between two fan-shaped scrolled brackets.

The playing side names the country: each half carries an incised outline map of Armenia with its regions between the drop-shaped points, the bars are scallop-edged, and each outer rail is hollowed into a trough for the checkers. Two plain brass-toned hinges, no cut-out grip. The six photos show the board alone.

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 inlay for the snow peaks and the chequered panel, brass-toned hinges
• Carving: Khor Virap monastery on its hill before the twin peaks of Ararat with pale wood snow, road and fields in perspective, stippled sky, in a rope-rimmed arched frame with rope border on a wavy-edged lid; fan-shaped scrolled brackets flanking an inlaid flower-stamped chequered panel on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers; two dice
• Inside: incised drop-shaped points and an incised outline map of Armenia with regions in each half; scalloped bar edges, checker trough along each outer rail
• Hardware: two plain brass-toned hinges on the spine
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board
• 32 wooden checkers
• Two dice

Why You'll Love It

• The postcard view: monastery in front, mountain behind — the sight from the Ararat plain that every Armenian knows.
• Snow in pale wood: the two summits are inlaid lighter than the dark stained lid, so they read white from across the room.
• Armenia inside: an outline map of the country with its regions is cut into each half of the playing side.

Good to Know Before You Buy

How does this differ from the other Ararat landscape board? Same composition, darker stain: this lid is stained deep brown with the peaks inlaid pale, and the chequered reverse has flower-stamped squares. There is no bag and no clasps: the old copy listed both, but the six photos show the board only with two plain hinges, and the checkers and dice are listed from the maker's specification.

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 stippled sky and the carved walls with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. Keep it out of direct sun and away from heat; store it closed with the checkers inside.

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