Armenian Backgammon Set - Vahanavank Monastery

Armenian Backgammon Set - Vahanavank Monastery

Notice what the carver decided was the subject here. The monastery is there — Vahanavank, tenth century, standing in Syunik — but it is small, and the mountains behind it are not. Rolling ridge after ridge fills most of the lid of this handmade Armenian backgammon set, carved in relief with the buildings set into them like something the landscape allowed rather than something imposed on it. A finely cross-hatched border frames the whole scene.

Anyone who has driven through Syunik will tell you that is the honest proportion. The mountains there do win; the monasteries simply found the right places to stand. Open the clasps, let the bronze hinges swing back, and the full 23.6" / 60 cm playing field is underneath, where the proportions are entirely up to you and the dice. Carry this hand-carved wooden backgammon board in by its cut-out handle and set it down — a luxury backgammon set that brings a whole region to the table, not just a building.

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

• A full mountain landscape carved by hand, with the Vahanavank monastery set into it
• A finely cross-hatched border cut around the whole scene
• Folds shut on bronze hinges and travels by its own cut-out carry handle
• A luxury Armenian backgammon board that carves a region rather than a monument

A Gift For Someone From Syunik

Or for anyone who has taken that road south and not stopped talking about it since. The mountains on the lid will start the conversation; the board will keep everyone at the table for the rest of it.