Mount Ararat Armenian Backgammon Set in Line Work, Four Sizes

Mount Ararat Armenian Backgammon Set in Line Work, Four Sizes by Hrachya Ohanyan

Ararat's twin peaks, a poplar, a wall of stones and ploughed fields, with ARMENIA on a pale plaque, in a lobed cartouche on a walnut-brown lid. This is the Armenian wooden backgammon set made by Hrachya Ohanyan in four sizes, 30 to 60 cm / 11.8″ to 23.6″, classic outline. Plywood and beech, 32 checkers, dice and a carrying bag.

This is the board for the Armenian abroad, the school raffle and the family's first board — the cheapest Ararat in the house, in the size you want. The picture is line work: peaks, clouds, poplar and plaque are the pale wood left bare inside the stain, the fields run in ruled lines out to the wall of stones, a pale scalloped band edges the cartouche, and the ground round it is cut into diamond lattice to the moulded rim.

Open, a walnut-brown field with pale drop-tipped points, a petal wheel drawn on each half and brass hinges on the bar; the back carries a chequerboard of pale and stained squares between two eternity whirls. For the kitchen table, the weekend bag, the office drawer, and the player who wants Ararat at the price of a board game.

Specifications

• Size open: four sizes, 30 × 30 cm, 40 × 40 cm, 50 × 50 cm or 60 × 60 cm (11.8″, 15.7″, 19.6″ or 23.6″ square) — choose above
• Size folded: half the width, from 30 × 15 cm / 11.8″ × 5.9″ to 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: plywood and beech, stained walnut brown and varnished, the peaks, clouds, poplar and plaque left pale
• Carving: Mount Ararat's twin peaks with clouds, a poplar, a wall of stones and the ploughed valley in line work, the word ARMENIA on a pale plaque, inside a lobed cartouche edged with a pale scalloped band; diamond lattice in line work to the rim; a chequerboard of pale and stained squares between two eternity whirls on the back; pale drop-tipped points and a petal wheel in line work on each half inside
• Outline: Classic — a square frame with a moulded rim
• Hardware: brass hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Wooden backgammon board with Mount Ararat in line work
• 32 beech and walnut checkers
• Dice set
• Black carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• Ararat in every size: the same lid — peaks, poplar, plaque and lattice — on the pocket board, the travel board, the medium and the full table board, so you pick the size, not the picture.
• Says where it is from: the word ARMENIA sits on a pale plaque under the mountain, so the board reads as Armenian from across the room — the one to send abroad.
• 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 picture carved? It is line work, not relief: the outlines of the peaks, the clouds, the poplar, the stones and the ruled fields are thin lines cut into a flat surface, and the peaks, clouds, poplar and the ARMENIA plaque are the pale wood left bare inside the walnut-brown stain. The lattice, the points and the petal wheels inside are line work too. Varnish goes over the lot; nothing is printed or applied.

Which size should I choose? The 60 cm board is the full table size; the 50 cm plays the same game on a smaller table; the 40 cm goes in a rucksack; the 30 cm fits a coat pocket and travels best. All four share the lid, the inside and the bag — only the board and the checkers scale.

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 bag.

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.