Luxury Cosmos Backgammon Set Carved in Walnut

Luxury Cosmos Backgammon Set Carved in Walnut — Handmade in Armenia

Hundreds of carved orbs, ring after ring of them, spread out from a sunburst at the centre of this luxury backgammon set — some plain and polished, some stamped with a letter or a sign, an eight-point star in each corner — cut in relief across a 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ walnut board, handmade in Armenia.

This is the wooden backgammon set that looks like a star chart under the hand: every orb is a separate rounded relief, the rings tighten toward the centre until they become the rays of the sun, the ground between them is stippled, and the round lid sits on a square plan with a star boss in each corner. The disc runs across both halves, so it closes as a half-disc.

Open it the other way and the walnut field is calm: points scored in fine lines with scroll tops, a flower drawn in each half, scalloped rails and a stippled crescent in each round shoulder, troughs along the ends for the checkers and dice. Brass clasps hold the halves shut.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″ — a round lid on a square plan
• Material: walnut wood, oiled finish, with the figure of the grain showing inside
• Carving: rings of rounded orbs round a central sunburst, some stamped with letters and signs, eight-point star in each corner, stippled ground, round lid on a square plan; line-work points, a flower in each half and stippled crescents inside
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark; pair of dice
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″ (half-disc)
• Hardware: brass hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding carved walnut backgammon board
• 32 wooden checkers and a pair of dice
• Carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• A sky in walnut: rings of carved orbs spiral in to a sunburst, each one cut on its own.
• A round lid: the disc closes as a half-circle case with a star at each corner.
• Made to play: line-work points and a flower per half inside, checkers and dice in the troughs.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the carving real? It is. Each orb is a rounded relief cut into the walnut, the sunburst and corner stars likewise, with the ground between them stippled by hand; inside, the points, flowers and crescents are scored in line work. No print, no pressing, no resin.

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. Dust the carving with a soft brush, wipe the flat wood with a dry cloth and store it closed.

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