Russian Backgammon Set - Coat of Arms and Flag of Russia

Russian Backgammon Set - Coat of Arms and Flag of Russia

The eagle is the old answer and the tricolour is the modern one. Both are carved by hand into the lid of this handmade Russian backgammon set: the double-headed eagle in relief inside its frame, still looking two ways at once after five centuries of doing so, and beside it the three bands of the flag, cut cleanly into the wood so the bars read as light, mid and dark rather than white, blue and red. Carved scrollwork runs between them and out to the border.

Carving a flag is a quiet test, incidentally — there is no colour to help you, so the whole thing has to work as shadow and depth or it does not work at all. Open the clasps, let the bronze hinges swing back, and the full 23.6" / 60 cm playing field is where the actual business happens: two people, one board, and nardy running as late as it always does. This carved wooden backgammon board travels by its own cut-out handle to whichever kitchen table has the loudest argument going.

What's Included

• Backgammon board with bronze hinges, clasps and a cut-out carry handle
• 32 checkers made from beech and walnut wood
• A pair of dice and a carrying bag

Specifications

• Folded: 30 x 60 cm / 11.8 x 23.6"
• Open playing field: 60 x 60 cm / 23.6 x 23.6"
• Weight: 5 kg / 11 lb
• Wood: solid beech, with bronze hinges and clasps
• Entirely handmade

Why It Stands Out

• The double-headed eagle coat of arms and the tricolour flag, both carved by hand in relief
• The flag rendered entirely in depth and shadow — no colour to lean on
• Folds shut on bronze hinges and travels by its own cut-out carry handle
• A handmade Russian backgammon board carrying both of the country's emblems

A Gift That Does Not Need a Card

For the household where nardy is a fixture and the board currently in use has seen better decades. This one arrives saying exactly what it is, and then quietly becomes the one everybody wants to play on.