Eternity Sign and Scrollwork Armenian Backgammon Set with Handle

Eternity Sign and Scrollwork Armenian Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

Deep acanthus scrollwork covers the whole lid of this carved Armenian backgammon set, gathering round a beaded oval in which four leaf sprays turn about a small eternity sign at the hub, with a cut-out carry handle through the top edge. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, 30 × 60 cm folded, handmade in Armenia.

The other outer face of the wooden backgammon board is different: a chequered panel of pale and dark squares set flush between two panels of the same scrollwork. The relief is cut over a stippled ground on both faces and the wavy edge carries a plaited band.

Open the clasps and the field is dark stained with pale wood points let in, each tipped with an arrow, a pale spoked wheel inlaid in the middle of each half, rails ending in round bars and the handle cut-outs running through both sides. Thirty-two wooden checkers and a pair of 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, dark stained, brass hinges and clasps
• Carving: eternity sign and leaf sprays in a beaded oval with acanthus scrollwork across the lid; chequered panel between scrollwork on the other face; plaited edge band
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, dark and pale; dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip through the top edge of both halves
• Inside: pale inlaid points with arrow tips and a spoked wheel in each half; round-bar rails, corner dice recesses
• Hardware: brass hinges and two side clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board with carry handle
• 32 wooden checkers, dark and pale
• Dice

Why You'll Love It

• Full-lid carving: the scrollwork runs edge to edge, not a motif in a blank field.
• The eternity sign: small, at the very centre of the oval, where the sprays meet.
• Two different faces: carving on one, an inlaid chequered panel on the other.

Good to Know Before You Buy

How deep is the carving? The scrolls and leaf sprays stand well clear of a stippled ground and the beaded ring round the oval is cut bead by bead; the carving is on the outer faces only. Inside, the points and wheels are pale wood set into the dark-stained beech.

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? Dust the scrollwork with a soft brush and wipe the flat surfaces 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.