King Tigran Bust Backgammon Set with Handle

King Tigran Bust Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

Spiked tiara on his head and a robe across his shoulder, Tigran the Great looks to the right from the roundel of this Armenian backgammon set — a bust carved in relief on a cross-hatched ground inside a rope rim, with leaf scrolls either side, a rope border and an oval grip cut through the wavy-edged lid. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

On the back, pale and darker squares are let flush into the wood as a chequered panel, with a carved cartouche of stippled grapes and curling leaves at each end, the grip cut beneath and two small brass-toned clasps on the front edge.

Inside, an eternity sign — a whirl of curled scrolls inside a scalloped ring — is incised into the middle of each half between rows of incised drop-shaped points, with scalloped bar edges, troughs along the rails and corners and two plain brass-toned hinges on the spine.

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 and clasps
• Carving: bust of Tigran the Great in profile with spiked tiara and robe, 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; grape-and-leaf cartouches flanking an inlaid chequered panel on the other face; oval grip cut through both halves
• Checkers: 32 wooden checkers; two dice
• Inside: incised drop-shaped points and an incised eternity sign in a scalloped ring in each half; scalloped bar edges, rail and corner troughs
• Hardware: two plain brass-toned hinges on the spine, two small brass-toned clasps on the front edge
• Craftsmanship: handmade in Armenia

What's Included

• Folding beech backgammon board with cut-out handle
• 32 wooden checkers
• Two dice

Why You'll Love It

• The coin profile: the king is carved side-on in the spiked Armenian tiara, the way he appears on his own silver.
• Eternity inside: a whirling eternity sign sits in the middle of each half of the playing side.
• Carry it closed: the oval grip runs through both halves and the clasps hold the board shut.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the king named on the board? No lettering — the maker names the bust as Tigran the Great, and the spiked tiara is his usual attribute. The five photos show the board alone; checkers and dice are listed from the maker's specification, and there is no bag.

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 tiara, the scrolls and the cross-hatched ground with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. Keep the board out of direct sun and away from heat, and close both clasps before lifting it by the grip.

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