Lion Face Armenian Backgammon Set with Brass Emblems, 3 Sizes — Handmade in Armenia
A lion looks straight out of the rope-bordered roundel at the centre of this Armenian backgammon set, its mane, brow and muzzle cut in relief over a stippled ground with a diamond lattice covering the lid around it. A smaller lion's head in brass sits in a recessed roundel at each end and a cut-out carry handle passes through the top edge of each half. Three sizes: 40, 50 or 60 cm square (15.7″, 19.6″ or 23.6″), handmade in Armenia.
Closed lion-down, the wooden backgammon board shows sixty-four squares inlaid in two tones with a brass lion in a roundel to left and right, and the lattice reaching the scalloped edge.
The playing side is inlaid too: pale arrow-tipped points and one interlaced roundel per half, set into the dark stained beech, with a rail along each edge that keeps the checkers in place when the board is shut. Thirty-two turned wooden checkers in two tones and a pair of dice come with the set.
Specifications
- Size: three sizes — 40 × 40 cm, 50 × 50 cm or 60 × 60 cm (15.7″, 19.6″ or 23.6″ square) — choose above
- Size folded: 40 × 20 cm, 50 × 25 cm or 60 × 30 cm (15.7″ × 7.9″, 19.6″ × 9.8″ or 23.6″ × 11.8″)
- Material: beech wood, mid-brown stain with pale wood inlays, brass emblems, brass clasps
- Carving: lion face in a rope-bordered roundel with two brass lion-head emblems on a diamond lattice ground; inlaid chequered panel between two brass lions on the other face
- Checkers: 32 turned wooden checkers, pale and dark; dice
- Emblems: four brass lion heads, two on each outer face
- Carry handle: cut-out grip through the top edge of both halves
- Inside: pale inlaid points with arrow tips and an interlaced pale-wood roundel in each half
- Hardware: brass hinges and two side clasps
- Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia
What's Included
- Folding beech backgammon board with carry handle and four brass emblems
- 32 turned wooden checkers, pale and dark
- Dice
- Carrying bag
Why You'll Love It
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A face, front on: the lion meets your eye, with the mane cut in layered locks around the head.
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Lions in brass: four cast lion heads set into recessed roundels, two on each outer face.
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Three sizes: 40 cm for travel, 50 for the shelf, 60 for the table — choose above.
Good to Know Before You Buy
Are the small lions bronze? Brass — yellow metal castings of a lion's head, set into recessed roundels on both outer faces. The big lion is carved beech; the roundels inside are pale wood inlay. The photos show the 60 cm board.
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 surfaces 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.
