Armenian Backgammon Set - Holy Mother of God of Gyumri

Armenian Backgammon Set - Holy Mother of God of Gyumri

Gyumri is the city Armenians go to for craftsmen and for jokes, usually in that order, and it is entirely fitting that a hand-carved board should carry one of its churches. Surb Astvatsatsin — the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God — stands on the main square with its dark tuff and its clustered domes, and here it is cut in relief inside a deep oval frame at the centre of this handmade Armenian backgammon set, with carved scrollwork around it and a braided border running the whole way round.

The braid is worth noticing: a continuous plait, every crossing matched, all the way around the lid — the kind of patient work Gyumri built its reputation on. Open the clasps, let the bronze hinges swing back, and the full 23.6" / 60 cm playing field appears underneath. Gyumri also built its reputation on long evenings and quick remarks, so the board is on solid ground there too. Carry it in by the cut-out handle and set it down where the talking is.

What's Included

• Backgammon board with bronze hinges, clasps and a cut-out carry handle
• 32 checkers made from beech and walnut wood
• A pair of dice and a carrying bag

Specifications

• Folded: 30 x 60 cm / 11.8 x 23.6"
• Open playing field: 60 x 60 cm / 23.6 x 23.6"
• Weight: 5 kg / 11 lb
• Wood: solid beech, with bronze hinges and clasps
• Handmade in Armenia

Why It Stands Out

• The Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God of Gyumri carved by hand inside a deep oval frame
• A braided border plaited right around the lid, every crossing matched
• Folds shut on bronze hinges and travels by its own cut-out carry handle
• A handmade Armenian backgammon board from the city that made craftsmanship its name

A Gift From Gyumri

For anyone with roots in the second city, or for the friend who came back from there talking about the stone. It is a serious carving with a very unserious purpose, which is about as Gyumri as an object can get.