Carved Map of Russia Backgammon Set with Leaf Scrolls

Carved Map of Russia Backgammon Set with Leaf Scrolls — Handmade in Armenia

Russia's whole outline, Baltic to Pacific, stands in relief in the leaf-chain roundel on the lid of this Russian backgammon set, its regions scored into the raised map above a cross-hatched ground, with grape clusters and leaf scrolls either side and a leaf-chain border round the straight-edged lid. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

Open it and the country appears again, larger: an incised map of Russia runs across both halves inside, its cities named in Cyrillic — Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Khabarovsk among them — so the board says where it belongs before the first roll. The other outer face carries an inlaid chequered panel of pale and dark squares between two carved grape cartouches.

Spear-tipped points are incised into each half over the map, the checkers rest in troughs along the rails with two round dice cups cut into each side rail, and two ornamental hinges on the spine fold the board flat. It comes with 32 wooden checkers and dice, for anyone who grew up calling the game nardy.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, dark brown stain with pale wood inlay in the chequered panel, brass-toned hinges and clasps
• Carving: raised map of Russia with scored region borders on a cross-hatched ground, in a leaf-chain roundel; grape clusters and leaf scrolls either side, leaf-chain border with stippled corner spandrels on a straight-edged lid; grape cartouches flanking an inlaid chequered panel on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers; dice
• Inside: incised map of Russia across both halves with city names in Cyrillic; incised spear-tipped points; checker troughs along the rails, two round dice cups in each side rail
• Hardware: two ornamental brass-toned hinges on the spine, two small brass-toned clasps on the front edge
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board
• 32 wooden checkers
• Dice

Why You'll Love It

• The map twice: raised with its regions on the lid, incised with its cities inside — one board, two views of the same country.
• Both faces carved: grapes and scrolls round the map on the lid, an inlaid chequered panel between grape cartouches on the reverse.
• Straight edges: the plain rectangular case sits flat on a shelf or in a drawer with the clasps closed.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the map carved or printed? Carved — the outline stands above the cross-hatched ground on the lid with the region borders scored into it, and the map inside is incised into the wood with its lettering. The five photos show the board alone; checkers and dice are listed from the maker's specification, and there is no bag.

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 map, the grapes and the hatched ground with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces and the inside with a dry cloth. Keep the board out of direct sun and away from heat, and store it closed.

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