Lalish Temple and Sun Backgammon Set with Handle

Lalish Temple and Sun Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

The fluted conical spire of the Lalish Temple rises over its walls and gate in the rope-bordered oval on one face of this carved backgammon set; turn it over and a sun with a ring of flame-shaped rays fills the matching oval on the other, each on a cross-hatched ground with leaf scrolls curling in from the corners. A cut-out carry handle passes through the top edge of each half. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

With a carved scene on each outer face, the wooden backgammon set has no plain chequered back — temple or sun faces the room, whichever way it is set down.

The playing side is inlaid in pale wood: fleur-tipped points, a peacock drawn in fine line in one half and a pointed-ray sun in the other, with side grips, corner dice recesses and brass-toned hinges. Thirty-two beech and walnut checkers and dice are included.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, warm red-brown stain with pale wood inlays and brass-toned hinges
• Carving: Lalish Temple with fluted conical spire on one face, rayed sun on the other, each in a rope-bordered oval on a cross-hatched ground between leaf scrolls
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, beech and walnut; dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip through the top edge of both halves
• Inside: pale inlaid points with fleur tips, an inlaid peacock in one half and an inlaid rayed sun in the other; side grips and corner dice recesses
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges and two front clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

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

Why You'll Love It

• The Lalish spire: the fluted cone that marks the Yazidi sanctuary is carved in relief above the temple's walls and gate.
• Sun on the back: the second face carries a full rayed sun in its own oval, so the board is never blank on the shelf.
• Peacock and sun inside: both inlaid in pale wood in the two halves of the playing side.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the temple framed in flowering scrollwork? The oval is edged with a rope border and flanked by leaf scrolls; there are no flowers. The old listing also did not mention the sun carved on the other face or the peacock inlaid inside. The old copy listed a carrying bag that is not photographed, so it is not included here.

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 carving with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces 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.