Luxury Walnut Chess and Backgammon Set with Dentil Border

Luxury Walnut Chess and Backgammon Set with Dentil Border — Handmade in Armenia

A row of square teeth runs round the frame of this luxury walnut chess and backgammon set like the top of a castle wall, above a stippled band, on a board of figured natural walnut with chess outside and backgammon inside. 50 × 50 cm / 19.6″ × 19.6″ open, handmade in Armenia, with pieces, checkers, dice and a bag.

This is the wooden chess set for someone who wants real walnut rather than a stain. The grain runs in clouds and stripes across the frame and through the dark squares, the pale squares are inlaid maple, and the coordinates are cut beside them inside a scored border. The dentil band is cut tooth by tooth round all four sides, the surface inside it punched matt by hand, and the 32 pieces are carved with ribbed bodies, pale wood for one army and dark for the other.

Open it and the backgammon field is inside: points drawn in line work as long arrow shapes, a sunflower wheel at the centre of each half, and a trough down each side where the checkers and dice sit. Both games full size; it folds to half its width on bronze hinges and clasps.

Specifications

• Size: 50 × 50 cm / 19.6″ × 19.6″
• Material: solid walnut, natural finish, with inlaid maple squares and line-work coordinates
• Carving: castellated dentil border round the whole frame, stippled band inside it, scored line round the field, carved coordinates; line-work points and a sunflower wheel in each half inside
• Pieces: 32 carved wooden chess pieces, 16 pale and 16 dark; 32 wooden backgammon checkers; pair of dice
• Folded: 25 × 50 cm / 9.8″ × 19.6″
• Hardware: bronze hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding walnut board — chess outside, backgammon inside
• 32 carved wooden chess pieces, 16 pale and 16 dark
• 32 wooden backgammon checkers and a pair of dice
• Carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• Real walnut, no stain: figured grain running through the frame and the dark squares alike.
• A castle wall for a border: square teeth cut round every side above a hand-punched band.
• Two games, both full size: chess on the lid, nardi with a sunflower wheel in each half inside, checkers and dice included.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the carving real? Yes. The dentil teeth are cut into the walnut one by one, the band inside them is punched by hand, the coordinates and the border line are cut into the wood, the pale squares are inlaid maple, and the points and sunflowers inside are cut in line work. The walnut is left its own colour under a clear finish. Nothing is printed.

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? Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators. Wipe with a dry, soft cloth and store it closed.

Also known as nardi (нарды), nardy, tavla or shesh besh.