Hovhannavank Monastery Backgammon Set with Handle

Hovhannavank Monastery Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

ՀՈՎՀԱՆՆԱՎԱՆՔ is lettered beneath the monastery on this Armenian backgammon set — domed church and smaller domed chapel 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.

Flip it and the grip is there again, cut above a flush inlay of pale and dark squares that runs between two carved leaf-and-grape cartouches.

Inside, a large sunburst flower is incised inside a scrolled ring in each half, the points are cut with arrow tips, a checker trough runs along each outer rail beside the grip, and the halves swing on brass-toned hinges. The photos show pale and dark wooden checkers with two dice on the board, 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: Hovhannavank's domed church and smaller domed chapel with ՀՈՎՀԱՆՆԱՎԱՆՔ 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 arrow-tipped points and an incised sunburst flower in a scrolled ring in each half; checker trough along each outer rail
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges with an ornate one at the centre of 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

• Named in Armenian: the monastery's name is cut into the lid in Armenian letters, so the board says where it belongs.
• Two domes, not one: the main church and the small chapel beside it are both carved, as they stand at Hovhannavank.
• 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

Is the gorge carved behind the monastery? No — the old copy set it on the lip of the Kasagh gorge, but the carving shows the buildings alone on a cross-hatched ground with the name below. The checkers, dice and bag are the ones in the photos.

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 domes, the lettering 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.