Luxury Bear Hunt Backgammon Set, Hand-Painted, Two-Sided

Luxury Bear Hunt Backgammon Set, Hand-Painted, Two-Sided by Hrachya Ohanyan

A bear hunt in a snowbound pine forest, painted by hand on both covers: the bear reared on a fallen pine, two hunters with spears below. This is the 60 cm / 23.6″ luxury 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 hunting lodge, the cabin, and anyone who grew up on the old bear-hunt paintings. On the lid the bear stands on the roots of a fallen, snow-covered pine, a dog on the trunk above, while one hunter in a grey fur coat and one in red brace their spears in the snow. Turn it over and a bear charges through the drifts between tall pines with two hunting dogs snapping at it. Real brushwork on both faces, under a clear gloss.

Inside there is no snow at all: a walnut-brown field, pale points with fleur-de-lys tips, a wheel ornament in a scrolled ring on each half, and an ornate bronze hinge on the bar. For the log house, the dacha, the hunter who has hung up their rifle, and the player who wants a picture on the table instead of a pattern.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, stained walnut brown and varnished, with hand-painted covers under a clear gloss
• Carving: none on the covers — both faces are hand-painted (a bear hunt in a snowbound pine forest on the lid; a bear and two hunting dogs on the back); inside, wheel ornaments in scrolled rings and fleur-de-lys-tipped points in line work
• Outline: Classic — a square frame with a moulded rim
• Hardware: cast-bronze hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Wooden backgammon board with hand-painted covers
• 32 beech and walnut checkers with velvet bases
• Dice set cut from billiard balls
• Branded carrying case

Why You'll Love It

• Two paintings, not one: the hunt is on the lid and the chase is on the back, so whichever way the board lies closed there is a picture facing up.
• Brushwork you can see: look close and the snow on the firs is laid on in single strokes and the bear's coat in long ones — painted by hand, not printed, then varnished.
• 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 picture painted or printed? Painted. Both covers are painted by hand onto the wood and then sealed under a clear gloss varnish, so the brushstrokes sit under the finish where they cannot be rubbed off. Because it is hand-painted, each board differs a little from the photos in the small details.

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 — strong sun will fade a painted cover over the years. Wipe with a dry, soft cloth only 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.