Armenian Backgammon Set Hand Carved - Coat of Arms of Armenia, Medium

Armenian Backgammon Set Hand Carved - Coat of Arms of Armenia, Medium, by Hrachya Ohanyan

The eagle and the lion, cut deep enough to cast their own shadow. In the round rope-ringed frame on the cover, master Hrachya Ohanyan carved the coat of arms of Armenia in real relief: the two beasts holding the shield, Ararat with the ark at its heart, the four dynasties in the quarters, the sword, the broken chain, the wheat and the ribbon below — every feather, every curl of the mane, every link standing clear of a stippled ground. Around the frame runs a field of fine carved lattice between lobed panels inside a beaded border, on a classic square board stained a deep honey brown. A handmade Armenian backgammon set hand-carved from a single piece of wood at 19.6″ / 50 cm — the size that fits the coffee table as easily as the dining table, with the country's arms on the lid.

Undo the cast-bronze clasps and the 19.6″ / 50 cm hand-carved wooden backgammon board opens on a carved wheel ornament in a scrolled ring at the heart of each half, pale points tipped with fleur-de-lys flourishes and an ornate bronze hinge on the centre bar. Thirty-two checkers in light and dark wood, a dice set and the branded carrying case come with it. This is the handmade backgammon board for the flat in the diaspora with the tricolour on the fridge, and the family that stands up for the anthem — and sits down to nardi straight after.

Specifications

• Size open: 50 × 50 cm / 19.6″ × 19.6″
• Size folded: 50 × 25 cm / 19.6″ × 9.8″
• Material: beech wood, carved from one piece, stained honey brown and varnished
• Motif: the coat of arms of Armenia carved in deep relief inside a round rope-ringed frame on a stippled ground; carved lattice field, lobed panels, beaded border; wheel ornaments and fleur-de-lys points inside
• Outline: classic, with carved stepped edges
• Hardware: cast-bronze hinges and clasps
• Handmade in Armenia by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Backgammon board with bronze hinges and clasps
• 32 checkers made from beech and walnut wood, with velvet bases
• Dice set
• Branded carrying case

Why You'll Love It

• Arms in real relief: the eagle, the lion, the shield and the ribbon are carved by hand in the Hrachya Ohanyan workshop and stand well off the ground — run a finger over a wing and you feel every feather, and no two boards come out the same.
• The frame does half the work: rope ring, stippled ground, lobed lattice panels and a beaded border — the classic composition, carved, not printed.
• Ready for the table: 19.6″ / 50 cm board, checkers in light and dark wood, dice and a carrying case — open it and play.

Good to Know Before You Buy

How big is it? Open, the board is 19.6″ / 50 cm square — one step below the full 60 cm size, and the right choice for a smaller table. Closed, it is 19.6″ × 9.8″ / 50 × 25 cm and stands on its own edge.

Is the carving real? Yes. The coat of arms, the lattice, the rope and beaded borders and the wheel ornaments inside are all cut into the wood by hand, not printed or pressed. The honey colour is a stain in the wood under the varnish.

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.

Can I add a name or a date? Yes — choose the engraving option on this page and tell us the text. A name or a date turns it into a personalized backgammon set, and it is the detail people remember years later.

How do I look after it? Keep it out of direct sun and away from radiators, wipe with a dry soft cloth, and store it closed in the case.

The Coat of Arms

Armenia's arms were adopted in 1992 from the design of the first republic of 1918: an eagle and a lion holding a shield, Ararat with Noah's ark at its heart, and around it the emblems of the four dynasties that ruled the country — Artaxiad, Arsacid, Bagratuni and Rubenid. Beneath the shield lie a sword, a broken chain, a sheaf of wheat, a quill and a ribbon. Carved in relief on a nardi board, the emblem does what it does on the wall of every embassy — it says who is at home here.

About the Artist - Hrachya Ohanyan

In 1985, National Master Hrachya Ohanyan began his fine wood craft, introducing a new approach to the age-old traditions of woodworking. After many years of dedication, the Hrachya Ohanyan workshop was established in 2010. Every board passes through 14 stages of production, with 14 separate craftsmen leaving their mark before it reaches its finished form — a piece of wood artistry admired both in Armenia and around the world. Read the story of master Hrachya Ohanyan or explore the full Hrachya Ohanyan backgammon collection.

A Gift That Lasts Generations

For a veteran, a diaspora club, an Independence Day birthday or the father who taught everyone the anthem before the game, a hand-carved Armenian backgammon set with the coat of arms on the cover is the backgammon gift set that needs no card. We send it at Christmas, on 21 September and to Armenians far from home. It gets opened, played and passed on.