Armenian Coat of Arms Backgammon Set with Handle

Armenian Coat of Arms Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

An eagle and a lion hold the shield of Armenia with Ararat and the Ark, in pale wood on the lid of this Armenian backgammon set, on a cross-hatched oval of leaf scrolls, grapes and a pomegranate at the corners. A cut-out carry handle runs through each half. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

Flip the carved backgammon set and the other face carries an inlaid chequered panel of pale and dark squares between two vine-leaf roundels, so it sits on a shelf either way up.

Open, the board repeats the coat of arms as a pale inlay in each half, between inlaid fleur-tipped points, side grips, corner dice recesses and brass-toned hinges. The pale and dark checkers, the 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 pale wood arms and inlays, brass-toned hinges
• Carving: the coat of arms of Armenia, eagle and lion supporting the quartered shield with Ararat and the Ark, sword, chain, wheat and ribbon below, on a cross-hatched oval; leaf scrolls, a grape bunch with vine leaf and a pomegranate roundel; vine-leaf roundels flanking an inlaid chequered panel on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark; two dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip through the top edge of both halves
• Inside: inlaid points with fleur tips and an inlaid coat of arms of Armenia in each half; side grips and corner dice recesses
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges and two front clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

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

Why You'll Love It

• The arms twice over: carved in relief on the lid, then inlaid flat in each half of the playing side.
• Pale on cross-hatch: the eagle, lion and shield are the only untinted wood on the lid, so they read from across the room.
• Bag in the photos: the carrying bag is photographed with the board and ships with it.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the shield really wreathed in grapevines? Not all the way round. The old copy described a full vine wreath; the photos show one bunch of grapes with a vine leaf at the top-left corner and a pomegranate in a roundel at the top-right, with leaf scrolls between. Checkers, dice and the bag are all in the listing photos.

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? Work dust out of the relief with a soft brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. Keep it out of direct sun and store it closed, checkers inside, in the bag.

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