Leopard Head Backgammon Set with Leaf Scrolls

Leopard Head Backgammon Set with Leaf Scrolls — Handmade in Armenia

Spots cover the whole face and the jaws are open on the leopard's head at the centre of this wooden backgammon set — cut in relief in a leaf-chain oval on a cross-hatched ground, grape clusters and leaf scrolls on both sides, a leaf-chain border round the straight-edged lid. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

Set it on the sideboard and the head reads from the doorway: the ears are laid back, the whiskers fan out from the muzzle, every spot is a small hollow in the coat, and the teeth show in the open mouth. On the other face the lid gives way to an inlaid chequered panel of pale and dark squares between two carved grape cartouches.

Inside, the points are incised as long drops in 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 in each side rail, and two plain hinges on the spine fold it flat. It comes with 32 wooden checkers and dice.

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: leopard's head with open jaws and a spotted coat, 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 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 spotted cat, not a lion: the coat is picked out spot by spot, which no plain-maned big cat gives you.
• Both faces carved: grapes and scrolls round the leopard on the lid, an inlaid chequered panel between grape cartouches on the reverse.
• Straight edges: the plain rectangular case lies flat on a shelf or in a drawer with the clasps closed.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the leopard carved in relief? Yes — the head stands above the cross-hatched ground and each spot is cut into the coat; the close-up photo shows the depth of the jaws and ears. 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 spots, the grapes and the hatched ground with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. Keep the board away from direct sun and heat, and store it closed.

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