{"product_id":"st-mary-church-carved-backgammon-board","title":"Armenian Backgammon Set - St. Mary Church","description":"\u003ch2\u003eArmenian Backgammon Set - St. Mary Church\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArmenians call these churches Surb Astvatsatsin, and nearly every town has one. That is what makes this handmade Armenian backgammon set different from the boards carved with the famous monasteries — this is not a landmark you travel to, it is the church at the end of somebody's street. It is cut in relief inside a deep oval frame at the centre of the lid, with carved scrollwork around it and a braided border running the whole way round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat braided edge is worth a second look, because it is the detail that takes the longest: a continuous plait cut by hand, every crossing matched, all the way around a 23.6\" lid without a single place to hide a mistake. Open the clasps, let the bronze hinges swing back, and the full 23.6\" \/ 60 cm playing field is waiting underneath. Carry this hand-carved wooden backgammon board in by its cut-out handle and set it down; it belongs on the sort of table where people arrive without being invited.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's Included\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackgammon board with bronze hinges, clasps and a cut-out carry handle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e32 checkers made from beech and walnut wood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA pair of dice and a carrying bag\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFolded: 30 x 60 cm \/ 11.8 x 23.6\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen playing field: 60 x 60 cm \/ 23.6 x 23.6\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 5 kg \/ 11 lb\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWood: solid beech, with bronze hinges and clasps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHandmade in Armenia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy It Stands Out\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSt. Mary Church carved by hand in relief inside a deep oval frame\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA braided border plaited by hand right around the lid, every crossing matched\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFolds shut on bronze hinges and travels by its own cut-out carry handle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA handmade Armenian backgammon board about the everyday church rather than the famous one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA Gift That Feels Like Home\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot every Armenian gift has to be a mountain or a coat of arms. Sometimes it should be the church people actually got married in — and a board to keep the family at the table afterwards.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CanarianCanary","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53098192830784,"sku":"103848","price":249.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/5551\/9552\/files\/1745996415654.jpg?v=1788438516","url":"https:\/\/canariancanary.com\/products\/st-mary-church-carved-backgammon-board","provider":"CanarianCanary","version":"1.0","type":"link"}