Armenian Coat of Arms Backgammon Set with Basket Weave

Armenian Coat of Arms Backgammon Set with Basket Weave by Hrachya Ohanyan

The coat of arms of Armenia — eagle and lion holding the quartered shield, sword and chain below — on a lid of basket weave. This is the 60 cm / 23.6″ Armenian 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 embassy, the diaspora office and the father who stands for the anthem. The emblem is carved as it appears on the state seal: the eagle with its feathers cut one by one, the lion with mane and tufted tail, between them the shield quartered for the Bagratuni, Arsacid, Artaxiad and Rubenid houses with Ararat at its heart, and beneath it sword, broken chain, wheat, feather and ribbon. It stands off a cross-hatched ground in a beaded ring, between cusped panels of basket weave.

The playing side stays plain so the emblem is the only picture: pale and dark points tipped with fleur-de-lys, a wheel ornament in a scrolled ring on each half, an ornate bronze hinge on the bar, and two eternity whirls carved into the weave on the back. For the citizenship party, the retiring officer, and the family that keeps the flag folded in a drawer.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, stained chestnut and varnished, the raised carving left paler
• Carving: the coat of arms of Armenia — eagle and lion supporting a shield quartered with the arms of the four royal dynasties round Mount Ararat, with sword, broken chain, wheat sheaf, feather and ribbon beneath — in relief on a cross-hatched ground inside a beaded ring; cusped panels of basket weave; diamond lattice corners; rope borders; eternity whirls on the back
• 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

• The whole emblem: both supporters, all four dynastic quarters, Ararat with the ark, and the five things beneath the shield — nothing left off to make the carving easier.
• Weave round the seal: the basket weave either side is cut strand by strand, so the lid has texture edge to edge and the emblem reads against it.
• 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. The eagle, the lion, the shield and everything beneath it are carved in relief into the beech, the ground behind is cross-hatched, and the basket weave and lattice are cut into the same lid. Stain and varnish come last; nothing is printed, cast 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.