Sunburst Ornament Walnut Backgammon Set in Dark Epoxy, Medium

Sunburst Ornament Walnut Backgammon Set in Dark Epoxy, Medium by Hrachya Ohanyan

Pale walnut lozenges in rings round an eternity whirl, the ground between them poured dark brown, so the sunburst reads as light on dark inside its beaded ring. This is the 50 cm / 19.6″ Armenian wooden backgammon set made by Hrachya Ohanyan, classic outline. Handmade in walnut, with 32 checkers, dice cut from billiard balls and a branded case.

This is the board for the panelled study, the man who thinks colour is for other people, and the player who wants the pattern without the blue. The disc is cut as a lattice of kites and diamonds standing proud of a lowered ground; that ground is filled with dark brown resin and polished level, so every lozenge shows pale against it and the whirl at the hub sits in its own plain ring. Either side, cusped panels of chip-carved star lattice; diamond lattice to the corners; rope-and-bead borders throughout.

Inside, natural walnut and line work: points with a cross-hatched fill under fleur-de-lys tips, a petal wheel in a scrolled ring on each half, a brass hinge stamped with the maker's mark on the bar. The medium size folds to the width of a laptop bag. For the office shelf, the quiet living room, and the player who wants pattern in two tones of brown.

Specifications

• Size open: 50 × 50 cm / 19.6″ × 19.6″
• Size folded: 50 × 25 cm / 19.6″ × 9.8″
• Material: walnut wood, natural colour, varnished; dark brown epoxy resin in the sunburst
• Decoration: a sunburst of kite- and diamond-shaped lozenges radiating from an eternity whirl, cut as a lattice into the walnut with the ground between filled with dark brown epoxy resin, sanded flush and polished, inside a rope-and-bead ring; cusped panels of chip-carved star lattice either side; diamond lattice on the outer fields; rope-and-bead borders; petal wheels in scrolled rings and cross-hatched points in line work inside
• Outline: Classic — straight edges and square corners
• Hardware: brass hinge stamped with the maker's mark, cast-bronze clasps
• Craftsmanship: entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Epoxy-inlaid walnut backgammon board, carved lattice around the disc
• 32 beech and walnut checkers with velvet bases
• Dice set cut from billiard balls
• Branded carrying case

Why You'll Love It

• Two browns, one pattern: pale walnut lozenges over a dark resin ground, so the sunburst is all contrast and no colour — it sits with any furniture.
• Flush and smooth: the resin is poured into the lowered ground and polished level with the lattice, so the disc is one unbroken surface under the hand.
• 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

How does this differ from the blue sunburst board? Same walnut, same size, same lattice of lozenges and star-lattice panels — only the resin in the sunburst is dark brown here instead of pearl blue, so the pattern reads as pale wood on dark rather than wood on colour. The ground is poured, sanded flush and polished, the lattice panels are chip-carved, and the board is varnished. Nothing is printed or applied.

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.