Large Braided Border Chess Set with Carved Coordinates

Large Braided Border Chess Set with Carved Coordinates — Handmade in Armenia

A wide braid of flat strands, four of them weaving over and under, is carved round the whole frame of this large chess set on a ground stippled by hand. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia from beech in a warm brown stain, with 32 turned pieces and a bag.

This is the wooden chess set that looks upholstered in leather from a distance. The strands are broad and rounded, cut so each one dips under the next, and the stippling between them turns the ground matt so the braid reads as the only shiny thing on the frame. The edge is straight with a plain moulded lip, the coordinates are carved beside the inlaid squares, and the pieces are turned in pale wood and dark.

The board folds to half its width on bronze hinges and clasps, and the inside is carved as a backgammon field — pale points tipped with a fleur-de-lis, a lace-work disc inlaid in each half, a trough down each side with two round hollows — though the set ships with the chess pieces only. Full size for long games, and it still fits in the bag.

Specifications

• Size: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Material: beech wood in a warm brown stain, with inlaid pale and brown squares
• Carving: four-strand braid in relief round the whole frame on a stippled ground, straight moulded edge, carved coordinates; inlaid points with fleur-de-lis tips and a lace-work disc in each half inside
• Pieces: 32 turned wooden chess pieces in pale beech and dark walnut
• Folded: 30 × 60 cm / 11.8″ × 23.6″
• Hardware: bronze hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding carved beech chess board
• 32 turned wooden chess pieces, 16 pale and 16 dark
• Carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• A braid you can feel: four broad strands weaving in real relief round every side, on a hand-stippled ground.
• Full size: a field with room for tall pieces and long endgames.
• Points under the lid: the inside is carved as a backgammon field with a lace disc in each half — add checkers and dice for a second game.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the carving real? Yes. The braid is carved into the beech in relief with the ground stippled by hand, the coordinates are cut beside the squares, the squares are inlaid, and the points and discs inside are inlaid pale wood. Nothing is printed.

Are backgammon checkers included? No. This set ships with the 32 chess pieces; the inside is carved and inlaid as a backgammon field, so a set of checkers and dice of your own turns it into a two-game 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? Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators. Wipe with a dry, soft cloth and store it closed.