Faravahar Backgammon Set with Classic Outline

Faravahar Backgammon Set with Classic Outline by Hrachya Ohanyan

The Faravahar — the winged figure of the Zoroastrian faith, a bearded man in a feathered disc holding a ring — left in pale beech on a dark stippled disc, outside and in. This is the 60 cm / 23.6″ wooden backgammon set made by Hrachya Ohanyan, classic outline. Handmade in beech, 32 checkers, dice and a branded case.

This is the board for the Persian home, the Nowruz table and the player who grew up calling the game takhteh nard. The figure is a silhouette of pale beech kept clear of the stain — the feathered wings spread wide, the tail fanned, the two streamers curling, the ring held out in one hand — with its feathers and robe drawn in fine line, set in a disc of chip-carved honeycomb stipple inside a rope-and-bead ring. Cusped panels and diamond lattice fill the lid to the moulded rim.

Open, the field is stained dark with the points alternating pale and dark under fleur-de-lys tips, the Faravahar drawn again on a pale disc on each half, and the maker's stamped brass hinge on the bar; the back carries a chequerboard of pale and stained squares between two eternity whirls. For the Zoroastrian wedding, the Iranian grandfather abroad, and the player who wants the symbol inside as well as out.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, stained dark brown and varnished, the figure, the pale points and the discs inside left bare
• Carving: the Faravahar — winged figure, fanned tail, curling streamers, ring in hand — left in the pale beech with fine line detail on a disc of chip-carved honeycomb stipple inside a rope-and-bead ring; cusped stippled panels, diamond lattice and rope-and-bead borders to the rim; a chequerboard of pale and stained squares between two eternity whirls on the back; points alternating pale and dark with fleur-de-lys tips and the Faravahar on a pale disc on each half inside
• Outline: Classic — a square frame with a moulded rim
• Hardware: brass hinge stamped with the maker's mark, cast-bronze clasps
• Craftsmanship: entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Hand-carved backgammon board with the Faravahar on the lid
• 32 beech and walnut checkers with velvet bases
• Dice set cut from billiard balls
• Branded carrying case

Why You'll Love It

• The symbol, three times: once on the lid and once on each half inside, so the Faravahar faces both players through the whole game, not only when the board is shut.
• Cut, not printed: the figure is the beech itself left pale inside the stain, with the feathers and streamers drawn in fine line — nothing applied, nothing to peel.
• 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 Faravahar carved in relief? No — it is flat. The figure is the pale beech kept clear of the dark stain, with the wings, tail, streamers and robe drawn in fine line, so it is smooth to the touch with nothing to chip; the honeycomb stipple round it, the rope ring, the cusped panels and the lattice are chip-carved into the lid. The discs inside are done the same way, and the board is varnished. Nothing is printed or applied.

Is this a Persian backgammon board? The symbol is Persian — the Faravahar is the best-known emblem of the Zoroastrian faith — and the board is made in Yerevan by Hrachya Ohanyan in the Armenian way: a hand-carved beech lid, points cut into the field, cast-bronze clasps. It plays takhteh nard, nardi and backgammon alike.

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, takhteh nard (تخته نرد), tavla or shesh besh.