Pale Striding Lion Backgammon Set with Acanthus Scrolls

Pale Striding Lion Backgammon Set with Acanthus Scrolls — Handmade in Armenia

The lion is the only pale thing on this wooden backgammon set: left the natural colour of the beech, it strides roaring across a dark cross-hatched ground inside a leaf-chain roundel, with dark acanthus leaves curling out to fill the rest of the wavy-edged lid. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

Because the lion is unstained and everything round it is dark, it reads from the doorway before you see a single carved leaf. Up close the mane is cut in layered locks, the tail curls up over the back, and the grass under the paws is incised stroke by stroke. The other face carries an inlaid chequered panel of pale and medium squares with the same acanthus scrolls on both sides.

The inside stays dark and simple so the pale checkers show up: incised drop-shaped points, a petalled wheel in the middle of each half, troughs along the rails, two plain hinges on the spine and two clasps at the front. 32 wooden checkers and a dice set 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 brown stain with the lion left in pale natural wood and pale wood inlay in the chequered panel, brass-toned hinges and clasps
• Carving: striding lion in pale natural wood over incised grass, cross-hatched ground, in a leaf-chain 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 a petalled wheel 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

• Pale on dark: the lion keeps the natural colour of the wood while the whole lid round it is stained, so it stands out without a single painted line.
• Leaves edge to edge: acanthus scrolls fill both outer faces, round the lion and round the chequered panel.
• Wavy edges: the scalloped outline runs round every side of the case, not just the lid.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the lion carved or painted? Carved — it stands in relief above the cross-hatched ground, and the pale colour is the bare wood left unstained, not paint; the close-up shows the locks of the mane. The six 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 hatched ground, the mane 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, which would yellow the pale lion, and away from heat; store it closed.

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