Basket Weave Travel Chess and Backgammon Set with Metal Pieces

Basket Weave Travel Chess and Backgammon Set with Metal Pieces — Handmade in Armenia

Thirty-two small cast-metal pieces — one army bright gold, the other darkened — stand on this travel chess and backgammon set, a walnut board with a woven panel arched round the carry handle at each end and a backgammon field inside. 30 × 30 cm / 11.8″ × 11.8″ open, handmade in Armenia, with checkers, dice and a bag.

This is the wooden chess set that packs a games cabinet into a board the size of a book. The weave is cut strip over strip in an arch above each handle and in a panel down each side, leaf scrolls curl into the corners on a stippled ground, and the edge waves in scallops; the coordinates sit on brass discs beside the inlaid squares. The pieces are cast in metal, beaded and ribbed, sized to the squares and dense enough to stay put.

Open it and the backgammon field is inside, cut in line work with a sun wheel in each half and the checkers and dice already there; the handles come through the end rails as lifting slots. Shut, the two handles meet and the set lifts in one hand.

Specifications

• Size: 30 × 30 cm / 11.8″ × 11.8″
• Material: walnut wood in a warm brown finish, with inlaid pale and brown squares and brass coordinate discs
• Carving: basket weave arched round the handle at each end and panelled down each side, leaf scrolls at the corners, stippled ground, waved edge; line-work points and a sun wheel in each half inside
• Pieces: 32 cast-metal chess pieces, 16 gold-toned and 16 darkened; 32 wooden backgammon checkers; pair of dice
• Folded: 15 × 30 cm / 5.9″ × 11.8″
• Carry handle: cut through each end, with lifting slots in the end rails inside
• Hardware: bronze hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding carved walnut board — chess outside, backgammon inside
• 32 cast-metal chess pieces, 16 gold-toned and 16 darkened
• 32 wooden backgammon checkers and a pair of dice
• Carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• A metal army in a small board: cast pieces with real heft, gold against dark, sized to the squares.
• Two games, one hand: chess on the lid, nardi with checkers and dice inside, handles at both ends.
• Carved edge to edge: woven arches, woven side panels and leaf scrolls on a hand-stippled ground.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the carving real? The pieces are cast metal, cool and dense in the hand, gold on one side and darkened on the other. The weave and leaf scrolls are carved in relief on a hand-stippled ground, the handles are cut through the frame, the coordinates are brass discs, and the points and sun wheels inside are cut in line work. 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.