Roaring Lion Backgammon Set with Leaf Scrolls

Roaring Lion Backgammon Set with Leaf Scrolls — Handmade in Armenia

A lion roars in profile across the rope-rimmed roundel of this wooden backgammon set — jaws wide, teeth bared, the mane streaming back in long carved locks — on a cross-hatched ground between two broad leaf scrolls, inside a rope-and-leaf border with stippled corner triangles. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, straight-edged, handmade in Armenia.

Flip the shut board and a second game is waiting on the underside: a chequered inlay of pale and dark squares, a cartouche of leaves and stippled grapes carved at each end of it.

Inside, the decoration is incised: drop-shaped outline points, a faint flower-petal roundel cut into the middle of each half, scalloped bar edges, round dice recesses in the rails and corner troughs, on plain brass-toned hinges. The five photos show the board alone.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, medium brown stain with a pale wood chequered inlay, brass-toned hinges
• Carving: a roaring lion head in profile in a rope-rimmed roundel on a cross-hatched ground, leaf scrolls either side, rope-and-leaf border and stippled corner triangles; leaf-and-grape cartouches flanking an inlaid chequered panel on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers; two dice
• Inside: incised drop-shaped points, an incised petal roundel in each half, scalloped bar edges, round dice recesses and corner troughs
• Edges: straight, no cut-out grip
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges and two front clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board
• 32 wooden checkers
• Two dice

Why You'll Love It

• Mid-roar, in profile: open jaws and a streaming mane give the roundel movement most lion lids don't have.
• Scrolls, not a scene: broad leaf scrolls and a rope border frame the lion, nothing else competes with it.
• Chequered reverse: turn it over and a pale-and-dark inlaid panel gives you a second game.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the lion face-on? No — the old copy described a face-on lion with a sunburst mane, but the carving is a roaring head in profile with the mane swept back, so the listing has been corrected. There is no bag either: the old copy listed one, but the five photos show the board only, and the checkers and dice are listed from the maker's specification.

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 mane and the cross-hatched ground with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. Keep it out of direct sun and away from heat; store it closed with the checkers inside.

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