USSR Coat of Arms Backgammon Set with Handle

USSR Coat of Arms Backgammon Set with Handle — Handmade in Armenia

The state emblem of the USSR — hammer and sickle over the globe, wheat wreath, star on top — sits in pale wood at the centre of this Soviet backgammon set, in a rope-rimmed roundel with leaf scrolls, a rope border and an oval grip cut through the wavy-edged lid. 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ open, handmade in Armenia.

The back of the board is the plainer face: an inlaid chequered panel in two tones of wood, a carved grape-and-leaf cartouche to left and right, the same oval grip beneath it and two small brass-toned clasps along the front edge.

Inside, an outline map of the Soviet Union is incised into each half, stretching across the field from the Baltic to the Pacific; the drop-shaped points are incised too, not inlaid, with scalloped bar edges, rail and corner troughs and two 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, dark brown stain with pale wood emblem and chequered inlay, brass-toned hinges and clasps
• Carving: USSR coat of arms in pale wood with fine incised detail, 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 outline map of the Soviet Union in each half; scalloped bar edges, rail and corner troughs
• Hardware: two 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

• Two maps inside: the outline of the Soviet Union is incised into each half of the playing side.
• Pale-wood emblem: the arms are worked in lighter wood, so the hammer, sickle and wheat ears stand out from the dark lid.
• Carry it closed: the oval grip runs through both halves, so the clasped board lifts as one piece.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the emblem gold? No — the old listing said gold, but the photos show pale wood with fine incised lines, not gilding. 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 emblem, the scrolls and the cross-hatched ground with a soft dry brush and wipe the flat faces with a dry cloth. Keep the board away from direct sun and heat, and close both clasps before you lift it by the grip.

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