Roaring Tiger Backgammon Set with Handle

Roaring Tiger Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

Jaws wide and every tooth showing, a tiger's head turns towards you on this carved backgammon set — stripes cut as ridges, in deep relief on a cross-hatched ground inside a rope-rimmed roundel, leaf scrolls either side and a rope border on the wavy-edged lid. A cut-out carry handle passes through each half. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

Underneath, the closed board is fitted with a flush inlay of pale and dark squares, bracketed by leaf-and-grape cartouches, with the second grip cut through the top edge.

The playing side is cut in line work — points with arrow tips, a sunburst flower ringed with scrolls in the middle of each half — with a checker trough hollowed along each outer rail next to the grip. Brass-toned hinges join the halves. Pale and dark wooden checkers, two dice and a dark cloth carrying bag appear in the photos.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, medium brown stain with pale wood inlay in the chequered panel, brass-toned hinges
• Carving: a roaring tiger's head in three-quarter view in deep relief, in a rope-rimmed roundel on a cross-hatched ground, 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 arrow-tipped points and an incised sunburst flower in a scrolled ring in each half; checker trough along each outer rail
• Hardware: brass-toned hinges with an ornate one at the centre of 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 roar, not the stare: the tiger is carved mid-roar with the jaw dropped, so the head has motion the old 'still tiger' copy missed.
• Depth you can see: the head stands well proud of the cross-hatched ground, and the stripes are cut as separate ridges.
• 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

Are there clouds swirling round the tiger? No — the old copy described cloudwork, but the shapes either side of the roundel are the same leaf scrolls used across this range. The checkers, dice and bag are the ones in the photos.

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 stripes, the open jaw 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.