Tall Ship on the Waves Backgammon Set with Handle

Tall Ship on the Waves Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

Sails bellied out and waves breaking under the bow, a three-masted ship crosses the roundel of this carved backgammon set — the sea cut in rolling ridges, the ship in relief on a cross-hatched sky inside a rope rim — with leaf scrolls and an oval grip through the wavy-edged lid. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

Underneath the ship, on the other face, is the squared side: two tones of wood let in flush as a chequered panel, a bunch of stippled grapes with leaves carved to left and right of it, the grip below and a pair of small brass-toned clasps.

Open, the board plays on incised drop-shaped points with a petalled wheel in each half, and the photos show it laid with its 32 wooden checkers in pale and dark wood and two small dice; scalloped bar edges, rail and corner troughs and two plain brass-toned hinges finish the inside.

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: three-masted ship under full sail on rolling waves, in relief on a cross-hatched ground inside a rope-rimmed roundel, leaf scrolls either side and a leaf-chain border on a wavy-edged lid; grape-and-leaf cartouches flanking an inlaid chequered panel on the other face; oval grip cut through both halves
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers in pale and dark wood with ringed tops; two dice
• Inside: incised drop-shaped points and an incised petalled wheel in each half; scalloped bar edges, rail and corner troughs
• Hardware: two plain 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 with cut-out handle
• 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark
• Two dice

Why You'll Love It

• Water, not just a boat: the waves are carved in ridges under the hull, so the ship sits in a sea rather than on a flat ground.
• Checkers in the photos: the pale and dark checkers and the dice are shown on the open board.
• Carry it closed: the oval grip runs through both halves and the clasps hold the board shut.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is there a bag? No — the nine photos show the board, checkers and dice, and no bag; the old listing's bag was not photographed. The checkers are plain wooden discs in two tones with ringed tops.

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 sails, the waves and the cross-hatched ground with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces and the checkers with a dry cloth. Keep the board out of direct sun and away from heat; close the clasps before lifting it by the grip.

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