Armenian Backgammon Set Hand Carved - Ararat in Clean Lines, Medium

Armenian Backgammon Set Hand Carved - Ararat in Clean Lines, Medium, by Hrachya Ohanyan

Ararat drawn with a gouge: the two peaks with their snow in a few sure strokes, a poplar beside them, the furrows of a field running toward the word ARMENIA, and rays fanning out beneath it — all cut into the plain wood of the cover in clean carved lines, with a scroll of carved leaves curling in from each corner. Master Hrachya Ohanyan kept the outline classic and square and let the grain of the beech show through everything. A handmade Armenian backgammon set from a single piece of wood, from the Hrachya Ohanyan workshop, at 19.6″ / 50 cm — the size that fits the coffee table as easily as the dining table.

Best for: A Christmas gift for an Armenian father or friend, or a thoughtful gift for a boss. Mount Ararat outline, 50 cm: plays comfortably and stores easily. Engraving available.

Undo the cast-bronze clasps and a 19.6″ / 50 cm hand-carved wooden backgammon board opens up: a carved flower ornament at the heart of each half, pale points tipped with small carved drops, and the deep grain of the board running through it all. Thirty-two checkers in light and dark wood, a dice set and the carrying bag come with it. This is the wooden backgammon set for a first flat, a dorm room or the balcony — light to carry, quick to open, and honest about where it comes from.

Specifications

• Size open: 50 × 50 cm / 19.6″ × 19.6″
• Size folded: 50 × 25 cm / 19.6″ × 9.8″
• Material: beech wood, carved from one piece and varnished
• Motif: Mount Ararat with a poplar, a furrowed field, rays and the word ARMENIA, carved in clean lines on a plain cover; carved leaf scrolls at the corners, carved flower ornaments inside
• Outline: classic, with carved stepped edges
• Hardware: cast-bronze hinges and clasps
• Handmade in Armenia by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Backgammon board with bronze hinges and clasps
• 32 checkers made from beech and walnut wood
• Dice set
• Carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• Ararat in a few strokes: the peaks, the poplar, the lettering and the corner scrolls are cut into the wood by hand in the Ohanyan workshop — a lighter, cleaner carving than the deep-relief boards, and no two come out the same.
• It says ARMENIA: the one board on the shelf that needs no explaining, to guests or to grandchildren.
• Ready for the table: 19.6″ / 50 cm board, checkers in light and dark wood, a dice set and a bag — open it and play.

Good to Know Before You Buy

How big is it? Open, the board is 19.6″ / 50 cm square — one step below the full 60 cm size, and the right choice for a smaller table. Closed, it is 19.6″ × 9.8″ / 50 × 25 cm and stands on its own edge.

Is the carving real? Yes. The mountain, the lettering, the corner scrolls and the flower ornaments inside are all cut into the wood by hand with a gouge — in clean lines rather than deep relief, so the cover stays smooth to the touch while every stroke catches the light.

What about shipping and returns? Shipping is free to the US, Canada and Europe, always tracked; other countries pay a flat $100 (Brazil, Chile and New Zealand $200). Every set is covered by our 30-day returns.

Can I add a name or a date? Yes — choose the engraving option on this page and tell us the text. A name or a date turns it into a personalized backgammon set, and it is the detail people remember years later.

How do I look after it? Keep it out of direct sun and away from radiators, wipe with a dry soft cloth, and store it closed in the bag.

Ararat

Ararat rises on the far side of the border, in full view of Yerevan and out of reach — which is exactly why it is on so many Armenian walls, bottles, carpets and boards. The two peaks, Masis and Sis, are the first thing the country sees in the morning and the last thing it sees at night, and a poplar in front of them is the tree of every village road. Carved on a nardi board with the country's name beneath, the mountain turns the family game into a small piece of home — wherever the family happens to be.

About the Artist - Hrachya Ohanyan

In 1985, National Master Hrachya Ohanyan began his fine wood craft, introducing a new approach to the age-old traditions of woodworking. After many years of dedication, the Hrachya Ohanyan workshop was established in 2010. Every board passes through 14 stages of production, with 14 separate craftsmen leaving their mark before it reaches its finished form — a piece of wood artistry admired both in Armenia and around the world. Read the story of master Hrachya Ohanyan or explore the full Hrachya Ohanyan backgammon collection.

A Gift That Lasts Generations

For the student abroad, the friend who just got their first table or the cousin who keeps saying they will learn nardi this year, a hand-carved Armenian backgammon set with Ararat and the word ARMENIA on the cover is the backgammon gift set that fits the budget without looking like it. We send it at Christmas, on Father's Day and to Armenians far from home. It gets opened, played and passed on.