Standing Stag and Grape Scrolls Backgammon Set

Standing Stag and Grape Scrolls Backgammon Set — Handmade in Armenia

Head up and all four hooves on a tuft of grass, a stag with broad antlers stands in the leaf-chain oval at the centre of this wooden backgammon set, with grape clusters and leaf scrolls on the stippled ground to either side and a leaf-chain border round the straight-edged lid. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

This is a board for a quiet room. Nothing on the lid is loud: the stag's body is smooth against the cross-hatched ground, the grapes are bunched in small rounded clusters and the scrolls curl away from them into the stippled corners. Flip it over and the other face carries an inlaid chequered panel of pale and dark squares between two carved cartouches of grapes and leaves.

Inside, drop-shaped points are incised into each half with an eight-petal wheel in an oval ring between them; the checkers rest in troughs along the rails, with two round dice cups cut into each side rail. It comes with 32 wooden checkers and dice, and two plain hinges on the spine fold it flat.

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 chequered panel, brass-toned hinges and clasps
• Carving: standing stag with broad antlers on a tuft of grass, cross-hatched ground, in a leaf-chain oval; grape clusters and leaf scrolls either side, leaf-chain border with stippled corner spandrels on a straight-edged lid; grape-and-leaf cartouches flanking an inlaid chequered panel on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers; dice
• Inside: incised drop-shaped points and an eight-petal wheel in an oval ring 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

• A stag at rest: not a leap or a chase — the animal stands square with its head raised, which is why the lid reads so calmly.
• Both faces carved: grapes and scrolls around the stag on the lid, an inlaid chequered panel between grape cartouches on the reverse.
• Straight edges: the plain rectangular case stacks flat on a shelf or in a drawer with the clasps closed.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the stag carved in relief? Yes — the body, the antlers and the grass tuft stand above a cross-hatched ground, and the grapes and scrolls around it are cut the same way. The five 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? Brush the antlers, the grapes and the hatched ground with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. 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.