Luxury Lion Heads Chess and Backgammon Table

Luxury Lion Heads Chess and Backgammon Table — Handmade in Armenia

Lions carry this luxury chess and backgammon table: a carved head at the knee of each cabriole leg, paw feet below, a cast brass lion's face at each end of the chessboard, on the apron and on every checker. It unfolds into a backgammon field: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, 70 cm / 27.6″ high, handmade in Armenia.

Closed, the wooden chess and backgammon table is a side table with an inlaid board of pale and brown squares, lettered round the edge, carved lattice on the top and apron, and a felt-lined compartment beneath the swinging top. Unfolded, the field has pale inlaid points with arrowhead tips, a fluted sun-wheel ringed with scrolls in each half, a vine band on the rails and a recess at each corner for the dice cup.

The chess pieces are turned wood, sixteen pale and sixteen dark; the checkers are pale and dark wooden discs, each set with a cast brass lion's face; the dice cup is dark wood. The legs unbolt and the table ships in its own plywood crate.

Specifications

• Size: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, 30 × 60 cm / 11.8″ × 23.6″ closed, 70 cm / 27.6″ high
• Material: beech wood in a warm brown finish, with an inlaid chessboard of pale and brown squares and pale inlaid points; cast brass lion faces
• Carving: a lion's head with a flowing mane at the knee of each leg and paw feet; lattice across the top and apron, moulded edges, a vine band on the rails inside; cast brass lion discs at each end of the chessboard and on the apron
• Pieces: 32 wooden chess pieces, 16 pale and 16 dark; 32 wooden backgammon checkers, pale and dark, each with a cast brass lion's face; dice cup and dice
• Storage: felt-lined compartment under the pivoting top
• Assembly: legs unbolt; ships in its own plywood crate
• Base: four carved cabriole legs with lion heads and paw feet, removable
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Flip-top chess and backgammon table on carved lion legs
• 32 wooden chess pieces, 16 pale and 16 dark
• 32 wooden backgammon checkers with cast brass lion faces
• Dice cup and dice
• Plywood shipping crate

Why You'll Love It

• Lions all the way down: carved at each knee, cast in brass on the top and apron, on all 32 checkers.
• A side table between games: inlaid chessboard on top, a felt-lined compartment underneath.
• Legs off, crate on: four bolts and it ships flat in its own plywood crate.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the carving real? It is. The heads and paws are carved from the leg itself, the lattice and vine band are carved into the beech, the squares, points and sun-wheels are inlaid, and the lion faces on top, apron and checkers are cast brass. Swing the hinged top aside for the compartment or unfold it flat for backgammon. 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. Dust the carving with a soft brush, wipe the flat wood with a dry cloth and keep the pieces in the compartment beneath the top.

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