Armenian Backgammon Set - Braided Ornament

Armenian Backgammon Set - Braided Ornament

This board is built in rings, and it is worth reading it from the middle out. First a bold ornament cut deep at the centre. Then a ring of symmetrical floral carving opening around it. Then, at the very edge, a braid — a continuous plait worked all the way round, every crossing matched. Three decisions, each one holding the one before it, which is exactly how an Armenian carver approaches a khachkar face.

None of it is showing off. There is no emblem here, no mountain, nothing to explain — just centuries of ornamental habit applied to a handmade Armenian backgammon set with a great deal of patience. Open the clasps, let the bronze hinges swing back, and the full 23.6" / 60 cm playing field appears, plain and calm after all that pattern. Carry this hand-carved wooden backgammon board in by its cut-out handle and set it down; it will look right in almost any room you put it in.

What's Included

• Backgammon board with bronze hinges, clasps and a cut-out carry handle
• 32 checkers made from beech and walnut wood
• A pair of dice and a carrying bag

Specifications

• Folded: 30 x 60 cm / 11.8 x 23.6"
• Open playing field: 60 x 60 cm / 23.6 x 23.6"
• Weight: 5 kg / 11 lb
• Wood: solid beech, with bronze hinges and clasps
• Handmade in Armenia

Why It Stands Out

• A deep central ornament, a ring of floral carving and a braided border — all cut by hand
• A continuous plait worked right around the lid, every crossing matched
• Folds shut on bronze hinges and travels by its own cut-out carry handle
• A handmade Armenian backgammon board in the country's oldest decorative language

A Gift That Suits Anyone

No politics, no flags, nothing to get wrong. Just very good carving on a board that will be used — which makes it the safe choice when you genuinely do not know what somebody already owns.