Classic Wooden Backgammon Set in Figured Wood, Large

Classic Wooden Backgammon Set in Figured Wood, Large, by Hrachya Ohanyan

Bigger, plainer, better grain. This is the workshop's classic backgammon set at 27.6″ / 70 cm — one size above the standard board — with a lid that is nothing but wood: one wide piece of beech with a flame figure rolling through it like smoke, stained golden brown and finished under clear varnish, a moulded edge and two bronze clasps. Master Hrachya Ohanyan carves nothing on the outside of this one; the figure in the wood is the decoration, and it is different on every board. A handmade wooden backgammon set for the long table, the big family and the games that run past midnight.

Undo the clasps and the 27.6″ / 70 cm wooden backgammon board earns its size: a wheel ornament in a scrolled ring at the heart of each half, points alternating pale wood and dark with fleur-de-lys tips, a carved scalloped frame round the field and an ornate hinge on the centre bar — with room between the points for a proper reach. 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 club, the restaurant terrace, and the grandfather who says the 60 cm boards are for children.

Specifications

• Size open: 70 × 70 cm / 27.6″ × 27.6″
• Size folded: 70 × 35 cm / 27.6″ × 13.8″
• Material: figured beech wood with a flame grain, made from one piece, stained golden brown and varnished
• Design: plain smooth cover with a moulded edge, the flame figure of the wood left as the only decoration; wheel ornaments in scrolled rings, pale-and-dark fleur-de-lys points and a carved scalloped frame inside
• Outline: classic, square
• 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

• Plain on purpose: a smooth, flame-figured lid with no carving at all — the wood does the talking, and no two boards share a grain.
• The big board: 27.6″ / 70 cm open — one size above the standard 60 cm, with longer points, wider lanes and elbow room for the spectators.
• Ready for the table: 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 27.6″ / 70 cm square — one size above the standard 60 cm, the board for a big table and long evenings. Closed, it is 27.6″ × 13.8″ / 70 × 35 cm and stands on its own edge.

Is the cover really plain? Yes — on purpose. The outside is figured beech under a golden stain and clear varnish, with a moulded edge and no carving or decoration; the flame pattern is the wood's own grain. Inside, the wheel ornaments and the points are worked into the wood and the scalloped frame round the field is carved by hand.

Is 70 cm too big? Not for a dining table or a club. Open it is 27.6″ / 70 cm square and closed 27.6″ × 13.8″ / 70 × 35 cm — it needs a proper table and a shelf to stand on, and rewards both. For a smaller room the workshop makes the same classic board at 23.6″ / 60 cm and 19.6″ / 50 cm.

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 Club Board

In Yerevan the serious nardi is played in the courtyard clubs and on the café terraces, and the boards there are big — the size where the checkers stand in proper rows and nobody has to lean in. Nobody carves those boards; they get carried in and out every evening and polished by a thousand games. The Hrachya Ohanyan workshop builds this one for that life, at 70 cm, with a plain lid and a figured piece of beech that is decoration enough — and the same hinges, clasps, points and finishing as its carved sets.

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 restaurant opening, a club that has worn out its old board, a father with a big table or a house where twenty people come on New Year's Eve, a classic handmade backgammon set at 70 cm is the backgammon gift set that gets used every week. We send it at Christmas and on Father's Day. It gets opened, played and passed on.