Armenian Ornament Backgammon Set with Classic Outline, Medium

Armenian Ornament Backgammon Set with Classic Outline, Medium by Hrachya Ohanyan

A four-fold leaf ornament in pale wood around an eternity whirl, on a stippled round panel inside a lattice cartouche. This is the 50 cm / 19.6″ wooden backgammon set made by Hrachya Ohanyan, the medium size. Handmade in walnut-brown stained beech, with 32 checkers, dice and a branded carrying bag.

This is the board for the smaller table, the weekend house, and the player who wants the carved lid in a size that travels. The leaves come to points and curl back on themselves, four of them round the whirl with palmettes between; the ground behind them is stippled dark so the pale ornament stands out, and the lid around the panel is a faceted lattice with rope-and-bead borders.

Inside, a dark field with pale points tipped in fleur-de-lys, an eight-petal wheel on each half and a stamped hinge on the bar. On the back, the lattice frames a chequerboard with an eternity whirl in each end cartouche. For the flat, the dacha and the first board of your own.

Specifications

• Size open: 50 × 50 cm / 19.6″ × 19.6″
• Size folded: 50 × 25 cm / 19.6″ × 9.8″
• Material: beech wood, stained walnut brown and varnished
• Carving: four-fold leaf ornament round an eternity whirl on a stippled round panel; faceted lattice cartouche with rope-and-bead borders; chequerboard and eternity whirls on the back
• Outline: Classic — straight edges, lobed cartouche corners
• Hardware: cast-bronze hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Hand-carved backgammon board
• 32 beech and walnut checkers
• Dice set
• Branded carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• The ornament in pale wood: leaves and palmettes left the colour of raw beech against a dark stippled ground, so the pattern reads from across the room.
• Medium, not small: the middle size is still a full game with room for the hand — it just fits a smaller table and a lighter bag.
• Make it theirs: add a name or a date at checkout to mark a birthday, a retirement or years of games together.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the carving real? Yes. The leaf ornament and the eternity whirl are cut into the beech in low relief on a stippled ground, and the lattice, rope-and-bead borders and the wheel ornaments inside are carved the same way. The walnut-brown colour is a stain under the varnish. Nothing is printed.

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 policy.

How do I look after it? Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators. Wipe with a dry, soft cloth and store it closed in its carrying case.

About the Artist - Hrachya Ohanyan

National Master Hrachya Ohanyan began his fine woodcraft in 1985 and founded his workshop in Yerevan in 2010. This board belongs to his collection of wooden backgammon sets, each one made by hand by the craftspeople of that workshop. Read Hrachya Ohanyan's story or explore the full backgammon collection.

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