Sameba Cathedral Georgian Backgammon Set with Metal Emblems

Sameba Cathedral Georgian Backgammon Set with Metal Emblems — Handmade in Armenia

Tbilisi's Sameba Cathedral, tier on tier up to its tall dome, is carved in pale wood inside the central roundel of this Georgian backgammon set, with a cast-metal Georgian coat of arms set into a smaller roundel at each end, a fine lattice cut across the dark lid and a cut-out carry handle through the top. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

The cathedral panel is lighter wood than the lid around it, so the building reads clearly against the lattice; the two emblems are silver-toned metal with St George and the shield in relief. On the other outer face the same two emblems flank a chequered panel of pale and dark squares.

Inside, the wooden backgammon board is dark stained with pale points let in, each tipped with an arrow, a pale interlaced star roundel in each half, rope-carved handle bars at the sides and corner dice recesses. Thirty-two turned wooden checkers, a pair of dice and a carrying bag come with it.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, dark stained with pale wood inlays, cast-metal emblems, brass hinges and clasps
• Carving: Sameba Cathedral in pale wood inside a roundel, two Georgian coat-of-arms emblems, lattice ground; chequered panel between the same emblems on the other face
• Checkers: 32 turned wooden checkers, dark and pale; dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip with a rope-carved bar through the top edge of both halves
• Emblems: two silver-toned cast-metal Georgian coat-of-arms emblems on each outer face
• Inside: pale inlaid points with arrow tips and an interlaced star roundel in each half; corner dice recesses
• Hardware: brass hinges and two side clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board with carry handle and four metal emblems
• 32 turned wooden checkers, dark and pale
• Dice
• Carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• The skyline: Sameba's stepped tiers and dome cut in pale wood against the dark lattice.
• Georgia in metal: St George and the shield cast in relief, twice on each face.
• Everything photographed: checkers, dice and the bag are in the pictures, not a promise.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Are the emblems bronze? They are cast metal with a silver-coloured finish, not bronze — four small roundels let into the lid and the other face. The cathedral is carved in relief in a pale wood panel; the points and stars inside are pale wood set into the dark beech.

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 lattice and cathedral with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat surfaces and metal emblems with a dry cloth. Keep the board out of direct sun and carry it in its bag with the checkers inside.

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