Lion Pride Backgammon Set with Carved Scroll Frame

Lion Pride Backgammon Set with Carved Scroll Frame — Handmade in Armenia

A lion stands in the middle of the lid of this carved wooden backgammon set, his mane cut strand by strand, while a lioness lies on a rock with a cub at her paws and a second cub peers from the grass under an acacia tree, mountains behind and a broad scroll frame curling round the scene. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

The scrolls of the frame are cut deep enough to throw real shadow and run out to the wavy edge of the wooden backgammon board. On the other outer face a chequered panel of pale and dark squares sits between two panels of the same scrollwork.

Open, the field is dark stained with pale points let in, each tipped with a small arrow, a pale interlaced star roundel in each half and a long dice recess in every corner. Thirty-two wooden checkers and a pair of dice come with the board.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, dark stained, brass hinges and clasps
• Carving: lion, lioness on a rock and two cubs under an acacia tree with mountains behind, in a deep scroll frame; chequered panel between scrollwork on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, dark and pale; dice
• Inside: pale inlaid points with arrow tips and an interlaced star roundel in each half; corner dice recesses
• Hardware: brass hinges and two side clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board
• 32 wooden checkers, dark and pale
• Dice

Why You'll Love It

• Four lions, one scene: male, lioness and two cubs, each cut with its own expression.
• The frame: deep scrolls that curl round the picture like a carved cartouche.
• A worked interior: pale inlaid points and star roundels, not a printed field.

Good to Know Before You Buy

How many lions are carved? Four — the standing male, the lioness lying on the rock, a cub beside her and a second cub under the tree. They are cut in relief over a stippled ground, the mane and the tree canopy in the deepest cuts; the points and stars inside are pale wood set into the dark beech.

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 carving with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat surfaces with a dry cloth. Keep the board away from direct sun and radiators and store it closed with the checkers inside.

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