Pale Interlace Star Armenian Backgammon Set with Corner Scrolls

Pale Interlace Star Armenian Backgammon Set with Corner Scrolls — Handmade in Armenia

Five loops of a pale interlaced band knot themselves into a star round a five-petal flower on the lid of this Armenian backgammon set, leaf tips and scrolls curling out to the rim of the roundel, with a spray of pale scrollwork in each corner of the dark-stained, straight-edged lid. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

Larger and sparer than the dense ornament boards: one big roundel, four corner sprays, and dark wood between them, so the star reads as a single shape from across the room. Each strand of the interlace is edged in fine dark line and passes over and under its neighbours the way carvers drew them on church walls. The other face carries a chequered panel of pale and dark squares with a knot stamped into every dark square, framed by the same corner scrolls.

Fold it open and the inside is plain dark wood with long incised drops for the points and a ring of scrolls in each half; the checkers rest in troughs along the rails, two round dice cups are cut into each side rail, and two plain hinges on the spine let the halves lie flat. It comes with 32 wooden checkers and dice.

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 in the roundel, the scrolls and the chequered panel, brass-toned hinges and clasps
• Decoration: pale-wood interlace star with a five-petal flower and curling leaf tips in a round frame, pale scrollwork in each corner, on a straight-edged dark lid; the same corner scrolls round a chequered panel with a knot stamped in every dark square on the other face; incised points and scroll roundels inside
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers; dice
• Inside: incised drop-shaped points and a ring of scrolls in each half; checker troughs along the rails, two round dice cups in each side rail
• Hardware: two plain brass-toned hinges on the spine, two small brass-toned clasps on the front edge
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board
• 32 wooden checkers
• Dice

Why You'll Love It

• One shape, read at once: a single big interlace star instead of an all-over field — the bold version of the pale-ornament family.
• Knots on both faces: the looped star on the lid, a stamped knot in every dark square of the chequered reverse.
• Straight edges: the plain rectangular case sits flat on a shelf with the clasps closed.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the star carved in relief? No — the pale interlace and the corner scrolls sit flush with the dark ground, outlined in fine dark line, so the lid is a flat, high-contrast face rather than deep carving; the points and roundels inside are incised. The six photos show the board alone; checkers and dice are listed from the maker's specification, and there is no bag.

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? Wipe the pale faces with a dry, soft cloth and brush the incised points inside now and then. Keep the board out of direct sun and away from heat, and store it closed.

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