Snarling Leopard Backgammon Set with Handle

Snarling Leopard Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

Spots stippled across the face and the lip curled back from the teeth: a leopard's head looks straight out of this carved backgammon set, in deep relief on a cross-hatched ground inside a rope-rimmed roundel, leaf scrolls either side and a rope border on the wavy-edged lid. A cut-out carry handle passes through each half. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

The other face is worked as well: leaf-and-grape cartouches carved at each end, pale and dark squares let in flush between them, and the second grip cut through the top.

The photos of the open board show arrow-tipped points, a sunburst flower in a scrolled ring in each half, a trough along each outer rail beside the grip, pale and dark wooden checkers with two dice, and a dark cloth carrying bag. Brass-toned hinges join the halves.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, medium brown stain with pale wood inlay in the chequered panel, brass-toned hinges
• Carving: a snarling leopard's head face-on with a spotted coat, in deep relief in a rope-rimmed roundel on a cross-hatched ground, leaf scrolls either side and a rope border on a wavy-edged lid; leaf-and-grape cartouches flanking an inlaid chequered panel on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark, grooved faces; two dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip through the top edge of both halves
• Inside: incised arrow-tipped points and an incised sunburst flower in a scrolled ring in each half; checker trough along each outer rail
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges with an ornate one at the centre of the spine
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board with carry handle
• 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark
• Two dice
• Dark cloth carrying bag with handles

Why You'll Love It

• Spots you can count: the coat is cut as a field of small raised dots over the whole head, which is what makes it a leopard and not a lion.
• Face-on: the head meets you square, teeth bared, rather than in profile — the boldest of the big-cat lids.
• Handle and bag: a grip is cut through each half, and the set comes with a cloth bag for carrying.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is it a lynx? No — the old title called it a watchful lynx, but the carving shows a spotted big cat with a long muzzle and no ear tufts, snarling rather than watching: a leopard. The checkers, dice and bag are the ones in the photos.

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 spotted coat and the cross-hatched ground with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. Keep it out of direct sun and away from heat; store it closed with the checkers inside.

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