Pomegranate and Grapevine Travel Chess and Backgammon Set

Pomegranate and Grapevine Travel Chess and Backgammon Set — Handmade in Armenia

Small enough for a shoulder bag, carved like the big boards: this travel chess and backgammon set has a pomegranate among leaves beside a carry handle at each end, vine leaves in the corners and a grape bunch down each side. 30 × 30 cm / 11.8″ × 11.8″ open, handmade in Armenia, with pieces, checkers, dice and a bag.

The fruit and leaves on this wooden chess set stand in relief on a hand-stippled ground inside a waved edge, the grip of each handle shaped for the fingers, and the coordinates sit on brass discs round the inlaid pale and brown squares. The pieces are turned in pale and dark-stained wood, the kings tipped with a finial, scaled to the small field.

Open it the other way for nardi: points cut in line work with arrow tips, a sun wheel in each half, a starred scalloped rail behind the troughs, and the pale and dark checkers stacked ready with the dice. Brass clasps hold it shut, and the two handles line up so it carries like a small case.

Specifications

• Size: 30 × 30 cm / 11.8″ × 11.8″
• Material: walnut wood in a warm brown finish, with inlaid pale and brown squares and brass coordinate discs
• Carving: pomegranate among long leaves at each end, vine leaves at the corners, grape bunch down each side, stippled ground, waved edge, cut-out handle at each end; line-work points and a sun wheel in each half inside
• Pieces: 32 turned wooden chess pieces, pale and dark-stained; 32 wooden backgammon checkers, pale and dark; pair of dice
• Folded: 15 × 30 cm / 5.9″ × 11.8″
• Carry handle: cut through each end with a shaped grip
• Hardware: brass hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding carved board — chess outside, backgammon inside
• 32 turned wooden chess pieces, 16 pale and 16 dark
• 32 wooden backgammon checkers and a pair of dice
• Carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• Fruit at travel size: pomegranates, leaves and grapes carved in relief round a board that fits a bag.
• Two handles, two games: chess on the lid, nardi with checkers and dice inside, a grip at each end.
• Brass where it counts: coordinate discs, hinges and clasps, on a walnut board.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the carving real? Yes — every pomegranate, leaf and grape is cut in relief into the frame and the ground round them is stippled by hand; the handles are cut through the wood, the squares are inlaid, the coordinates are brass discs, and the sun wheels and points inside are line work, not print.

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? Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators. Wipe with a dry, soft cloth and store it closed.

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