Armenian Backgammon Set - St. Mary Church

Armenian Backgammon Set - St. Mary Church

Armenians 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.

That 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.

What's Included

• Backgammon board with bronze hinges, clasps and a cut-out carry handle
• 32 checkers made from beech and walnut wood
• A pair of dice and a carrying bag

Specifications

• Folded: 30 x 60 cm / 11.8 x 23.6"
• Open playing field: 60 x 60 cm / 23.6 x 23.6"
• Weight: 5 kg / 11 lb
• Wood: solid beech, with bronze hinges and clasps
• Handmade in Armenia

Why It Stands Out

• St. Mary Church carved by hand in relief inside a deep oval frame
• A braided border plaited by hand right around the lid, every crossing matched
• Folds shut on bronze hinges and travels by its own cut-out carry handle
• A handmade Armenian backgammon board about the everyday church rather than the famous one

A Gift That Feels Like Home

Not 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.