Tigran the Great Armenian Backgammon Set, 4 Sizes

Tigran the Great Armenian Backgammon Set, 4 Sizes — Handmade in Armenia

Tigran the Great faces right on the pale-wood disc of this Armenian backgammon set, drawn in dark line with the five-point tiara, its dotted band and star, and a veil falling to the shoulder, the disc held in a stepped cartouche with a diamond-lattice border. Four sizes, 30 to 60 cm square (11.8″ to 23.6″), handmade in Armenia.

A coin has two faces and so does this board: turn it over and pale and dark squares are inlaid as a chequered panel between the lattice ends.

Lift the lid and the playing side is inlaid too: a pale knotwork roundel at the heart of each half, fleur-tipped points running to it, a trough for the checkers cut along each rail and brass-toned hinges. Two-wood turned checkers, white dice and a black bag show in the photographs.

Specifications

• Size: four sizes — 30 × 30 cm, 40 × 40 cm, 50 × 50 cm or 60 × 60 cm (11.8″, 15.7″, 19.6″ or 23.6″ square) — choose above
• Size folded: 30 × 15 cm, 40 × 20 cm, 50 × 25 cm or 60 × 30 cm (11.8″ × 5.9″, 15.7″ × 7.9″, 19.6″ × 9.8″ or 23.6″ × 11.8″)
• Material: beech wood, medium brown stain with a pale wood disc and inlays, brass-toned hinges
• Carving: Tigran the Great in profile with the Armenian tiara, drawn in dark line on a pale-wood disc, in a stepped cartouche with stippled panels and a diamond-lattice border; lattice and an inlaid chequered panel on the other face
• Checkers: 32 turned wooden checkers, pale and dark; two dice
• Inside: inlaid points with fleur tips and an inlaid knotwork roundel in each half; checker troughs along the sides
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges and front clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

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

Why You'll Love It

• The king in line: a clean profile portrait with the tiara, not a relief bust — it reads like a coin.
• Four sizes: from a 30 cm board that travels to a full 60 cm board, same disc on each.
• Everything photographed: checkers, dice and the carrying bag all appear in the listing photos.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the portrait carved in relief? No — it is a line drawing in dark on a pale-wood disc, flush with the lid; the carving is in the lattice and cartouche round it. The old copy's 'intricate details' meant this. One board was photographed for all four sizes; only the 30 cm board is a true travel size. Checkers, dice and the bag are photographed with 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? Wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth and brush the lattice and disc gently. 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.