Pale Eternity Sign Armenian Backgammon Set with Corner Scrolls

Pale Eternity Sign Armenian Backgammon Set with Corner Scrolls — Handmade in Armenia

Cut into a disc of pale wood, an eternity sign turns at the centre of this Armenian backgammon set — eight curved blades round a hub, the grooves between cut down into the dark — with pale scrollwork and a small eternity disc in each corner of the dark lid. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

The contrast is the point. Everything pale sits on a near-black brown ground, so the sign reads across a room like a graphic rather than a carving, and the corner scrolls frame it without touching it. On the other face the same pale scrolls and small eternity discs surround a chequered panel of pale and dark squares, an eternity whirl stamped into every dark square.

Inside, drop-shaped points are incised into each half around a ring of scrolls, 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 the board flat. It comes with 32 wooden checkers and dice, and the lid closes on two front clasps.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, near-black brown stain with pale wood inlay in the eternity discs, the scrolls and the chequered panel, brass-toned hinges and clasps
• Carving: eight-bladed eternity sign cut into a pale-wood disc with a dark ring, pale scrollwork and a small eternity disc in each corner on a straight-edged lid; the same corner scrolls and discs round a chequered panel with an eternity whirl stamped in every dark square on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers; dice
• Inside: incised drop-shaped points and a ring of scrolls 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

• Reads from across the room: pale sign on a near-black ground, the highest contrast in the family — the board for a modern flat as much as a grandmother's table.
• Eternity everywhere: the big disc on the lid, two small ones in the corners of each face, and a whirl stamped into every dark square of the reverse.
• Straight edges: the plain rectangular case sits flat on a shelf with the clasps closed.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the eternity sign carved? Yes — the eight pale blades stand proud and the grooves between them are cut down into the dark ground; the close-up photo shows the depth. The corner scrolls are flat pale wood on the stain. The six 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 grooves of the eternity sign with a soft dry brush and wipe the pale faces with a dry cloth — never a damp one, which would dull the contrast. 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.