Surb Astvatsatsin Church Backgammon Set with Handle

Surb Astvatsatsin Church Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

Սուրբ Աստվածածին — St Mary — is lettered under a walled church on this Armenian backgammon set: a domed church behind a long wall with an arched gate, in relief on a cross-hatched ground inside a rope-rimmed roundel, leaf scrolls either side, rope border, wavy-edged lid. A cut-out carry handle passes through each half. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

The reverse gives the grip a second cutting above a chequered inlay of pale and dark squares, with a carved leaf-and-grape cartouche at either end.

Open, each half carries an incised map of Armenia with the regions named in Armenian letters between the drop-shaped points; a trough runs along each outer rail beside the grip, brass-toned hinges join the halves, and the photos show pale and dark wooden checkers, two dice and a dark cloth carrying bag.

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
• Carving: a walled Surb Astvatsatsin church — domed church behind a long wall with an arched gate — with Սուրբ Աստվածածին lettered beneath, in relief on a cross-hatched ground inside a rope-rimmed roundel, leaf scrolls either side and a rope border on a wavy-edged lid; leaf-and-grape cartouches flanking an inlaid chequered panel on the other face
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark, grooved faces; two dice
• Carry handle: cut-out grip through the top edge of both halves
• Inside: incised drop-shaped points and an incised map of Armenia with region names in Armenian in each half; checker trough along each outer rail
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges on the spine
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board with carry handle
• 32 wooden checkers, pale and dark
• Two dice
• Dark cloth carrying bag with handles

Why You'll Love It

• The everyday church: not a famous monastery but a Surb Astvatsatsin behind its wall — the kind of church most Armenian towns have — with its name cut in Armenian.
• Labelled inside: the map of Armenia in each half carries the region names in Armenian letters.
• Handle and bag: a grip is cut through each half, and the set comes with a cloth bag for carrying.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Which St Mary church is it? The lettering says only Սուրբ Աստվածածին — Holy Mother of God, St Mary — without a town; the carving shows a domed church behind an enclosure wall with an arched gate. Checkers, dice and bag are as photographed.

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 wall, the dome and the cross-hatched ground with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. Keep it out of direct sun and away from heat; store it closed with the checkers inside.

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