Gyumri Holy Saviour Church Backgammon Set with Handle

Gyumri Holy Saviour Church Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

GYUMRI is lettered under the church on this Armenian backgammon set — the Holy Saviour, domed drum, belfry and arched windows, in relief on a cross-hatched ground inside a rope-rimmed roundel, leaf scrolls either side and a rope border on the wavy-edged lid. A cut-out carry handle passes through each half. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

Shut, the board turns over to a chequered face — pale and dark squares inlaid flush across the middle, a leaf-and-grape cartouche carved at each end, the second grip above.

Open, each half carries an incised outline map of Armenia with its regions named in Armenian letters, between rows of drop-shaped points; troughs run along the outer rails beside the grips and brass-toned hinges join the halves. The photos show pale and dark wooden checkers with two dice, and a dark cloth carrying bag.

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
• Carving: the Holy Saviour church of Gyumri — domed drum, belfry, arched windows — with GYUMRI lettered beneath, in relief on a cross-hatched ground inside a rope-rimmed roundel, leaf scrolls either side and a rope border on a wavy-edged lid; leaf-and-grape cartouches flanking an inlaid chequered panel on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark, grooved faces; two dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip through the top edge of both halves
• Inside: incised drop-shaped points and an incised map of Armenia with region names in Armenian in each half; checker trough along each outer rail
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges on the spine
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board with carry handle
• 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark
• Two dice
• Dark cloth carrying bag with handles

Why You'll Love It

• The city is named: GYUMRI is cut into the lid under the church, so there is no guessing which town the board belongs to.
• Armenia inside, labelled: the map in each half carries the region names in Armenian letters — more than the usual plain outline.
• Handle and bag: a grip is cut through each half, and the set comes with a cloth bag for carrying.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Which of Gyumri's churches is it? The maker names it the Holy Saviour, Surb Amenaprkich; the carving shows a domed church with a belfry and arched windows, lettered GYUMRI. Checkers, dice and bag are as photographed.

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 dome, the windows and the cross-hatched ground with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. Keep it out of direct sun and away from heat; store it closed with the checkers inside.

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