Classic Wooden Backgammon Set in Natural Wood

Classic Wooden Backgammon Set in Natural Wood, by Hrachya Ohanyan

Discover a classic handmade backgammon set the way the workshop has always made it: one piece of pale beech, left its natural colour under a clear varnish, with nothing on the cover but the grain. No frame, no scene, no carving to compete with the game — just warm, even wood, a pair of bronze clasps and the clean square line of a classic outline. Master Hrachya Ohanyan makes this one for the people who want a wooden backgammon set that disappears into the room until it is opened. A 23.6″ / 60 cm board in the pale, honest colour of untreated beech.

Undo the clasps and the 23.6″ / 60 cm wooden backgammon board shows where the work went: a wheel ornament in a scrolled ring worked into each half, points in dark and pale wood tipped with fleur-de-lys flourishes, and ornate bronze hinges on the centre bar. Thirty-two checkers in light and dark wood, a dice set and the branded carrying case come with it. This is the handmade backgammon board for the kitchen table, the summer house and the first set a family buys — the one that gets played every single night.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, made from one piece, natural colour, varnished
• Design: plain cover with the natural beech grain; wheel ornaments in scrolled rings and fleur-de-lys points worked into the halves inside
• Outline: classic, square
• Hardware: cast-bronze hinges and clasps
• Entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Backgammon board with bronze hinges and clasps
• 32 checkers made from beech and walnut wood, with velvet bases
• Dice set
• Branded carrying case

Why You'll Love It

• Nothing to hide behind: a plain cover is the honest test of a board — flat, straight, evenly grained, varnished smooth — and this one passes it, made by hand in the Hrachya Ohanyan workshop.
• Detail where you play: the wheel ornaments and the dark-and-pale points inside give the game its frame without a single distraction on the outside.
• Ready for the table: full-size 23.6″ / 60 cm board, checkers in light and dark wood, dice and a carrying case — open it and play.

Good to Know Before You Buy

How big is it? Open, the board is 23.6″ / 60 cm square — the standard full size for a living-room table. Closed, it is 23.6″ × 11.8″ / 60 × 30 cm and stands on its own edge.

Is the cover really plain? Yes — on purpose. The outside is the natural beech under a clear varnish, with no stain and no decoration, so the grain is the pattern. Inside, the wheel ornaments and the points are worked into the wood, not printed on.

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 case.

The Classic

Every nardi board in Armenia descends from one like this: a plain wooden box that opens into a field of points, carried from house to house and slapped shut at midnight. The carved covers came later; the game never needed them. A classic backgammon set in bare wood is the version your grandfather would recognise — and the one that shows the workmanship most clearly, because there is nowhere for a flaw to hide.

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 a first flat, a student going abroad, a wedding where the couple asked for "something simple", or the friend who has admired your board for years and never bought their own, a classic handmade backgammon set in natural wood is the backgammon gift set that suits every room. We send it at Christmas and on Father's Day. It gets opened, played and passed on.