Luxury Georgian Backgammon Set - Coat of Arms and Five-Cross Flag

Luxury Georgian Backgammon Set - Coat of Arms and Five-Cross Flag, by Hrachya Ohanyan

Two covers, two symbols of Georgia. On one side the coat of arms is carved in relief inside a round rope-ringed frame: St. George on horseback driving his lance into the dragon, two lions rearing up on either side of the shield, the crown above and the mantling falling in folds. Turn the board over and the five-cross flag is carved on the other cover — the great cross of St. George with the four small Bolnisi crosses in its quarters. Around both, a fine carved lattice and stippled ground run to the curved, stepped contour outline that is the workshop's signature. A luxury Georgian backgammon set, hand-carved from a single piece of wood by National Master Hrachya Ohanyan.

Undo the cast-bronze clasps and a full 23.6″ / 60 cm hand-carved wooden backgammon board opens up: a carved wheel ornament at the heart of each half, pale points tipped with small carved flourishes, and the deep grain of the board running through it all. 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 a Georgian home — nardi is played at every supra table from Tbilisi to Batumi, and this is the board people stop to look at before the toasts begin.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, carved from one piece and varnished
• Motif: coat of arms of Georgia on one cover, five-cross flag on the other — both carved in relief in round frames; lattice ground, carved wheel ornaments inside
• Outline: signature contour silhouette with carved, stepped edges
• Hardware: cast-bronze hinges and clasps
• Entirely handmade 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

• Carved on both covers: the coat of arms on one side, the flag on the other — every lion, lance and cross cut into the wood by hand in the Hrachya Ohanyan workshop, and no two boards come out the same.
• The contour outline: the curved, stepped silhouette means you recognise one of these boards from across the room, closed or open.
• Ready for the table: full-size 23.6″ / 60 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 23.6″ / 60 cm square — the standard full size for a living-room table. Closed, it is 23.6″ × 11.8″ / 60 × 30 cm and stands on its own edge, showing either cover you choose.

Is the carving real? Yes. St. George, the lions, the crosses and the lattice are all cut into the wood by hand, not printed or pressed — run a finger over the shield and you feel every line.

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 Arms and the Flag of Georgia

Georgia's coat of arms shows St. George — the country's patron — slaying the dragon on a red shield, held by two golden lions and crowned with the Iberian crown; the ribbon beneath reads "Strength is in Unity". The five-cross flag is older still: a white field with the red cross of St. George and four smaller crosses, carried in medieval Georgia and raised again as the national flag in 2004. Carved on a nardi board, they turn a game every Georgian grandfather taught his grandchildren into a small piece of the country you can keep on the table.

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 Georgian friend abroad, a wedding in Tbilisi or the father who taught you to play, a hand-carved Georgian backgammon set with the arms and the flag on its covers is the backgammon gift set that says exactly where the heart is. We send it at Christmas, on Father's Day and for Independence Day in May. It gets opened, played and passed on.