Hunter and Bear Carved Backgammon Set with Carry Handle

Hunter and Bear Carved Backgammon Set with Carry Handle — Handmade in Armenia

A hunter braces his spear against a rearing bear on the lid of this carved backgammon set, his dog lunging beside him and a man down beneath the bear's paws, with mountains ridged behind them, the whole scene cut in deep relief inside a shaped panel on a lattice ground under a cut-out carry handle. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, 30 × 60 cm / 11.8″ × 23.6″ closed, handmade in Armenia.

Turn the wooden backgammon board over and the lattice ground continues, this time framing a chequered panel of pale and dark squares with a carved whorl boss on either side; the handle cut-out runs through both halves. Open it and the field is dark-stained with two-tone pale points and a target disc of rings inlaid in each half, scalloped rails carved along the ends and a long recess in every corner for the dice.

Dice and a full set of wooden checkers in dark and pale are supplied; brass hinges and a clasp on each side do the closing.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood in a dark stained finish, with pale inlaid points inside; brass hinges and clasps
• Carving: hunter with spear, dog, rearing bear and fallen man before mountains in a shaped panel on a lattice ground; chequered panel between two whorl bosses on the other face; pale inlaid points and target discs inside
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, dark and pale; dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip through the top edge and both side rails
• Hardware: brass hinges and two side clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

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

Why You'll Love It

• A whole scene: spearman, dog, bear and fallen man in one deep-relief panel.
• Mountains behind: ridged peaks and grass tufts frame the fight.
• Carry it by the lid: a cut-out handle runs through both halves.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the scene carved? Yes — the figures stand in deep relief with the bear's fur and the hunter's cloak cut in, the mountains sit in lower relief behind them and the lattice ground is worked line by line. The points and discs inside are pale wood let into the dark field.

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 relief and lattice with a soft brush and wipe the flat wood 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.