Luxury Acanthus Walnut Backgammon Set with Basket Weave, Two-Sided

Luxury Acanthus Walnut Backgammon Set with Basket Weave, Two-Sided by Hrachya Ohanyan

A whorl of acanthus leaves round a smooth boss, carved in deep relief on both covers, with an eternity whirl either side and basket weave beyond. This is the 60 cm / 23.6″ luxury wooden backgammon set made by Hrachya Ohanyan, classic outline, two-sided. Handmade in walnut and hornbeam, 32 checkers, dice cut from billiard balls and a branded case.

This is the board for the Armenian household that wants ornament rather than a picture, the dining room with the carved sideboard, and the player who likes both covers the same. The centre is a boss with acanthus leaves curling out from it, each one hollowed and ridged, on a stippled ground in a rope-and-bead ring; two eternity whirls stand in full relief on either side, basket weave fills the corner panels, and acanthus scrolls frame it all. Turn the board and the same carving is there again.

Inside, the points are pale hornbeam let into the walnut, drop-shaped with fleur-de-lys tips, the petal wheel on each half sits on a pale hornbeam disc with leaf scrolls round it, and a brass hinge stamped with the maker's mark holds the bar. For the wedding table, the anniversary, and the player who wants carving front and back and hornbeam under the checkers.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: walnut wood, natural colour, finished with natural beeswax; hornbeam inlay inside
• Carving: a whorl of acanthus leaves round a smooth boss in deep relief on a stippled disc inside a rope-and-bead ring, two eternity whirls in full relief either side, basket weave corner panels, acanthus-scroll frame and rope-and-bead borders — the same on both covers; pale hornbeam points and petal-wheel discs inlaid inside, leaf scrolls carved round the discs
• Outline: Classic — straight edges and square corners
• Hardware: brass hinge stamped with the maker's mark, cast-bronze clasps
• Craftsmanship: entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Hand-carved backgammon board, carved on both covers
• 32 beech and walnut checkers with velvet bases
• Dice set cut from billiard balls
• Branded carrying case

Why You'll Love It

• No wrong way up: both covers carry the same deep carving, so however the board lies on the table the ornament is on show.
• Depth you can feel: the leaves are hollowed and ridged, the whirls stand off their discs, the weave is cut strand over strand — the whole cover is texture under the hand, finished in beeswax rather than thick varnish.
• 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 ornament carved on both sides? Yes — the same acanthus whorl, eternity whirls and basket weave are carved in deep relief on both covers of the walnut, so there is no plain back. The pale points and discs inside are hornbeam let into the walnut. The surface is finished with natural beeswax; 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.