Tigran the Great Profile Backgammon Set with Historic Maps

Tigran the Great Profile Backgammon Set with Historic Maps — Handmade in Armenia

Crowned with the five-pointed Armenian tiara, Tigran the Great faces right in profile on this Armenian backgammon set, his beard and the tiara cut in fine relief inside a rope-rimmed roundel, with leaf scrolls curling either side on a stippled ground and a rope-and-leaf border round the wavy-edged lid. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

Turn the closed board over for draughts or checkers: a panel of pale and dark squares is set flush into the reverse, with a cartouche of curling leaves and stippled grapes carved at each end.

Open, the halves carry historic maps of Armenia cut into the wood — Մեծ Հայք, Greater Armenia, with its provinces named in Armenian — between incised drop-shaped points, with rail troughs and brass-toned hinges. The pale and dark checkers, two dice and the carrying bag are all photographed.

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 a pale wood chequered inlay, brass-toned hinges
• Carving: Tigran the Great in profile with the Armenian tiara in a rope-rimmed roundel, leaf scrolls on a stippled ground and a rope-and-leaf border; leaf-and-grape cartouches flanking an inlaid chequered panel on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark; two dice
• Inside: incised drop-shaped points and incised historic maps of Armenia with provinces named in Armenian in each half; rail troughs
• Edges: wavy outline, no cut-out grip
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges and two front clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board
• 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark
• Two dice
• Carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• The king, crowned: the tiara and profile are the deepest carving on the lid and read at a glance.
• History inside: the playing side carries the old provinces of Greater Armenia, each named, cut into the wood.
• Everything photographed: checkers, dice and the carrying bag are all shown with the board and ship with it.

Good to Know Before You Buy

What is cut into the playing side? Historic maps — Մեծ Հայք, Greater Armenia, with its provinces named in Armenian — incised into each half, which the old copy never mentioned. The checkers, dice and carrying bag all appear in the photos and ship with the board.

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 portrait and the scrolls 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, in the bag.

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