Tall Ship and Anchors Backgammon Set with Acanthus Scrolls

Tall Ship and Anchors Backgammon Set with Acanthus Scrolls — Handmade in Armenia

Under full sail on carved waves, a three-masted ship crosses the roundel of this wooden backgammon set, and big acanthus leaves curl out from it to fill the rest of the wavy-edged lid, their scrolls cupping pockets of stippled ground in each corner. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

The finish is lighter than most carved boards — a honey brown that lets the grain show through the leaves — and the ship sits on a finely stippled sky so the sails and the hull stand out in relief. The other face carries an inlaid chequered panel of pale and medium squares with the same acanthus scrolls curling round it on both sides.

The sea theme carries inside: an anchor is incised into the middle of each half between the drop-shaped points, the checkers rest in troughs along the rails, and two plain hinges on the spine fold the board flat behind its two front clasps. It comes with 32 wooden checkers and a dice set.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, honey-brown stain with pale wood inlay in the chequered panel, brass-toned hinges and clasps
• Carving: three-masted ship under full sail on waves, stippled ground, in a plain-rimmed roundel; acanthus leaf scrolls with stippled pockets filling both sides of a wavy-edged lid; inlaid chequered panel between the same acanthus scrolls on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers; a dice set
• Inside: incised drop-shaped points and an anchor in each half; checker troughs along the rails
• 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 set

Why You'll Love It

• Ship outside, anchors inside: the theme runs through the whole board, not just the lid.
• Leaves edge to edge: the acanthus scrolls fill every corner of both outer faces, so there is no plain wood on show when it is closed.
• Lighter tone: a honey-brown finish that shows the grain — the pale board of the carved family.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the ship carved in relief? Yes — the hull, the sails and the waves stand above the stippled ground and the leaves are cut in relief round them; the close-up photo shows the depth. The five photos show the board alone; the checkers and the dice set 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 stippled sky, the waves and the leaf scrolls 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.