Armenian Coat of Arms Walnut Backgammon Set with Classic Outline

Armenian Coat of Arms Walnut Backgammon Set with Classic Outline by Hrachya Ohanyan

Armenia's coat of arms in walnut — eagle and lion holding the quartered shield, sword and broken chain below — carved in deep relief on a stippled disc. This is the 60 cm / 23.6″ 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 Armenian who wants the state emblem in real walnut, and the office in Yerevan with a flag in the corner. The eagle's feathers and the lion's mane are cut one by one; between them the quartered shield carries Ararat and the ark and the arms of the four royal houses; below hang the sword, the broken chain, wheat and ribbon. All of it sits on a star-stippled disc in a rope-and-bead ring, chip-carved diamond lattice out to the square corners.

Open, the walnut carries on: cross-hatched points in line work with fleur-de-lys tips, a petal wheel in a scrolled ring on each half, an ornate cast hinge along the bar; on the back, two eternity signs stand up in full relief from stippled discs. For the embassy reception room, the fortieth birthday, and the player who wants the emblem in the grain rather than on a stain.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: walnut wood, natural colour, varnished
• Carving: the coat of arms of Armenia — eagle and lion holding the quartered shield with Ararat and the ark, sword, broken chain, wheat and ribbon beneath — in deep relief on a star-stippled disc inside a rope-and-bead ring and lobed cartouche; chip-carved diamond lattice on the outer fields; rope borders; two eternity signs in full relief in stippled discs on the back; petal wheels in scrolled rings and cross-hatched points in line work 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

• The emblem as on the seal: eagle, lion, shield, sword and chain are all there in deep relief, so it reads from across the room and under the hand.
• Dark by nature: the walnut is left its own colour, so the eagle's feathers and the lattice show the grain running through them, and it only deepens with the years.
• 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 coat of arms is this? The coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia — the eagle and the lion holding a shield quartered with the arms of the four royal dynasties, Ararat and the ark at its heart, sword, broken chain and wheat beneath — first drawn for the First Republic in 1918 and restored in 1992. It is carved in deep relief into the walnut 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.