Luxury Ararat and Pomegranates Armenian Backgammon Set in Walnut

Luxury Ararat and Pomegranates Armenian Backgammon Set in Walnut — Handmade in Armenia

Ararat's twin peaks stand over poplars, fields and a river in the central panel of this luxury Armenian backgammon set, and on either side of it a pomegranate branch curls under six round fruit and long veined leaves — carved in relief across a 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ walnut board, handmade in Armenia.

This is the wooden backgammon set that puts the mountain and the fruit on one lid: the landscape sits in a lobed panel with its slopes stepped back and its trees standing clear, the branches either side are cut deep on a stippled ground so each pomegranate is a full sphere, and a plain moulded frame holds all three panels. The far face repeats the branches round a carved central panel.

Under the lid the game gets the plain wood: bare walnut with its figure showing, the points drawn as single scored lines that end in a small arrowhead, a flower head at the centre of each half, scalloped rails and a trough at each end where the checkers and dice sit when the clasps are shut.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: walnut wood, oiled finish, with the figure of the grain showing inside
• Carving: Mount Ararat over a poplar valley in a lobed central panel, pomegranate branches with six fruit each in the side panels, stippled ground, moulded frame; branches repeated on the far face; line-work points and a flower in each half inside
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark; pair of dice
• Hardware: brass hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding carved walnut backgammon board
• 32 wooden checkers and a pair of dice
• Carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• Two symbols, one lid: the mountain in the middle, pomegranate branches either side and on the back.
• Fruit you can hold: each pomegranate is a full sphere with its crown, twelve of them round the mountain.
• Walnut inside: the plain striped field, points and flowers scored in line work.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the carving real? It is. Peaks, poplars, fruit and leaves are all relief left standing in the walnut when the ground round them was cut away and stippled, the same on both faces, and the field inside is scored into the wood rather than printed. No pressing, no applied parts.

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 store it closed.

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