Howling Wolf on the Rocks Backgammon Set

Howling Wolf on the Rocks Backgammon Set — Handmade in Armenia

Braced on a rocky crag with its muzzle lifted, a wolf howls at a full moon in the rope-bordered roundel of this carved backgammon set, a single fir rising to its left, small clouds and a line of mountains cut into the stippled sky behind. Lobed lattice panels frame the scene on either side under a chip-carved border. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, 30 × 60 cm folded, handmade in Armenia.

Carry it closed the other way up and you get the second face: squares of pale and dark wood let in flush down the middle, a whorl disc carved into the lobed panel on each side.

The inside is pale-inlaid: fleur-tipped points and an interlaced eight-lobed roundel in each half, with cut-out grips in the rails, corner dice recesses and brass-toned hinges. Thirty-two beech and walnut checkers and dice 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, mid-brown stain with pale wood inlays and brass-toned hinges
• Carving: howling wolf on a rocky crag with fir tree, full moon, clouds and mountains in a rope-bordered roundel, lattice-filled lobed panels; inlaid chequered panel between two whorl discs on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, beech and walnut; dice
• Inside: pale inlaid points with fleur tips and an interlaced eight-lobed roundel in each half; cut-out grips in the rails and corner dice recesses
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board
• 32 wooden checkers, beech and walnut
• Dice

Why You'll Love It

• A whole night scene: crag, fir, moon, clouds and a mountain ridge, all cut in relief around the wolf.
• Rock and fur: the crag is carved in broken planes and the wolf's coat in strands, so the two textures play off each other.
• Roundels inside: an interlaced eight-lobed disc in pale wood beside the points in each half.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the wolf snarling? No — the old listing described bared teeth and flattened ears, but the carving shows the wolf howling, head up at the moon. This board has no top grip and lifts by the cut-out grips in its rails. The old copy also listed a carrying bag that is not photographed, so it is not included here.

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 carving with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. Keep the board out of direct sun and store it closed with the checkers inside.

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