King Tigran the Great Backgammon Set

King Tigran the Great Backgammon Set — Handmade in Armenia

King Tigran the Great faces left in the rope-bordered roundel of this Armenian backgammon set, his tall five-pointed tiara carved with a star between two birds, a curl of hair at his ear and his cloak pinned at the shoulder, all in relief on a stippled ground with lattice-filled lobed panels either side. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, 30 × 60 cm folded, handmade in Armenia.

Behind the portrait, the second face of the wooden backgammon board is an inlaid chequered panel in pale and dark wood, a carved whorl disc filling the lobed panel at each end.

Inside are pale inlaid points with fleur tips and, in each half, an inlaid map of Greater Armenia — ՄԵԾ ՀԱՅՔ — with its provinces lettered in Armenian, one map facing each player. Cut-out grips in the rails, corner dice recesses, brass-toned hinges; 32 wooden checkers and dice 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 inlays and brass-toned hinges
• Carving: Tigran the Great in profile with five-pointed tiara in a rope-bordered roundel, lattice-filled lobed panels; inlaid chequered panel between two whorl discs on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, beech and walnut; dice
• Inside: pale inlaid points with fleur tips and an inlaid map of Greater Armenia (ՄԵԾ ՀԱՅՔ) with lettered provinces in each half; cut-out grips in the rails and corner dice recesses
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board
• 32 wooden checkers, beech and walnut
• Dice

Why You'll Love It

• The tiara in detail: five points, a star and two birds carved into the crown, just as they appear on Tigran's coins.
• An empire inside: Greater Armenia inlaid in pale wood in each half, province by province, facing its player.
• Clean profile: the king's face is cut as a coin portrait — brow, nose and jaw in one unbroken line.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Does the king have a beard? No — the old listing praised a precise beard, but the carving shows Tigran clean-shaven, with the hair curling at his ear under the tiara. The board has no top grip; it lifts by the cut-out grips in its rails. The old copy also listed a carrying bag that is not photographed, 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.