St. Gayane Church Backgammon Set in Relief, Classic Outline

St. Gayane Church Backgammon Set in Relief, Classic Outline by Hrachya Ohanyan

St. Gayane Church carved in relief on a stippled disc — blocked walls, three arches, drum and dome — its name in Armenian letters beneath. This is the 60 cm / 23.6″ Armenian wooden backgammon set made by Hrachya Ohanyan, classic outline. Handmade in beech, with 32 checkers, dice cut from billiard balls and a branded case.

This is the board for the Etchmiadzin family, the study with the Armenian shelf, and the player who wants the church standing off the lid on a square-cornered board. Every block of the wall is cut separately; the three arches of the gavit sink into shadow; the drum lifts its pointed dome above the roofline, and the flagged courtyard runs down to a pale plaque lettered ԳԱՅԱՆԵ. Around it, a rope-and-bead ring, a lobed cartouche of star stipple and outer fields of chip-carved diamond lattice, straight-edged to the corners.

Inside, pale fleur-de-lys-tipped points on a walnut-brown field, a petal wheel in a scrolled ring on each half and an ornate cast hinge on the bar; two eternity whirls sit in stippled discs on the back. For the name day, the first flat, and the player who wants a church on the cover and a plain rectangle to play on.

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, the plaque left pale
• Carving: St. Gayane Church in relief on a stippled disc inside a rope-and-bead ring, ԳԱՅԱՆԵ lettered on a pale plaque beneath; lobed cartouche of star stipple; chip-carved diamond lattice on the outer fields; two eternity whirls in stippled discs on the back; petal wheels in scrolled rings inside
• Outline: Classic — straight edges and square corners
• 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

• Relief, not line: walls, arches, drum and dome are carved proud of the disc, so the church throws its own shadow and can be read by touch.
• Classic shape, Armenian cover: straight edges and square corners sit flat on any table, with the Etchmiadzin church and two eternity whirls to say where it comes from.
• 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

Which St. Gayane board is this? The classic one: straight edges and square corners, where the others in the family carry Ararat's peaks or a scrolled contour on the rim. The church here is carved in relief, with the name in Armenian letters on a pale plaque. Everything is cut from the beech — church, stipple, lattice, whirls — then stained and 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.