Carved Flower Disc Walnut Backgammon Set with Handle

Carved Flower Disc Walnut Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

One large flower disc, its petals radiating from a sunburst centre, sits in the middle of this walnut Armenian backgammon set. Around it runs a wide border of interlaced leaf scrolls with a whorl disc at each corner and an interlaced knot roundel at either side, and a cut-out carry handle passes through the top edge of each half. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, 30 × 60 cm folded, handmade in Armenia.

The walnut is finished natural, pale and honey-toned, and the same scroll border with its whorls and knot roundels frames the other outer face of the wooden backgammon board, where a chequered panel has a small knot cut into every dark square.

Inside, the points are incised with arrow tips, an oval flower is incised at the centre of each half, an arcade of small arches runs along the far edge and a cut-out grip is let into each side rail, with a dice recess in every corner. Thirty-two wooden checkers and a pair of dice are included.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: walnut wood, natural finish, silver-toned hinges and clasps
• Carving: large flower disc with a leaf-scroll border, four whorl discs and two interlaced knot roundels; chequered panel with knot squares in the same border on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, beech and walnut; dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip through the top edge of both halves
• Inside: incised arrow-tipped points, an oval flower in each half, arcaded far edge, side grips and corner dice recesses
• Hardware: silver-toned hinges and two side clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

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

Why You'll Love It

• One disc, many petals: the central flower is layered petal on petal out to a sunburst heart.
• The border does the work: interlaced leaf scrolls, whorls in the corners and knot roundels at the sides, on both faces.
• Pale walnut, no stain: every cut shows as shadow on the natural honey-coloured wood.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Where are the birds and the vine? There are none. The old title promised paired birds in a vine, but every photo shows the same thing: a flower disc, leaf scrolls, whorls and knot roundels. We have renamed the board to match what is carved on it.

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.