Acanthus Ornament Backgammon Set, Two-Sided

Acanthus Ornament Backgammon Set, Two-Sided by Hrachya Ohanyan

No back to this board. Both covers carry the same round ornament — acanthus scrolls around four net-filled lobes — so it lies either way up. This is the 60 cm / 23.6″ two-sided wooden backgammon set made by Hrachya Ohanyan, classic outline. Handmade in beech, with 32 wooden checkers, dice cut from billiard balls and a branded carrying case.

This is the board for the person who hates a plain side. Turn it over and the second cover is as finished as the first: the same ornament in a beaded ring, the same arched panels of diamond lattice either side of it, the same rope border. The ornament itself is deep — acanthus leaves curling over at the tips, four small lobes cross-hatched like net, a polished dome at the heart — on a stippled ground, in a pale honey stain that shows every edge.

Open it and the inside is the usual full-size game, kept plain against all that carving: fleur-de-lys-tipped points in pale and dark wood, a wheel ornament in a scrolled ring on each half, an ornate bronze hinge on the bar. For the coffee table where the board lies closed most of the week, and the buyer who wanted it to look right from both sides.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, stained pale honey and varnished
• Carving: acanthus-scroll ornament with four net-filled lobes and a smooth centre in a beaded ring on a stippled ground, carved on both covers; arched diamond-lattice panels; rope border
• Outline: Classic — a square frame with a moulded rim
• Hardware: cast-bronze hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

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

Why You'll Love It

• Two fronts: whichever way it lies, the carved face is up — there is nothing to turn to the wall.
• Honey stain: the lightest colour in the ornament range, so the carving reads as shape and shadow rather than dark on dark.
• 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, on both sides. The scrolls and lobes stand in relief on each cover, the arched lattice panels and the rope border are cut into the same beech, and stain and varnish go on last. 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.