Luxury Wooden Backgammon Set Hand Carved - Coat of Arms of Kazakhstan

Luxury Wooden Backgammon Set Hand Carved - Coat of Arms of Kazakhstan, by Hrachya Ohanyan

At the centre of this board is the shanyrak — the round crown of the yurt, the piece every Kazakh home is built around — with its rays fanning out like sunlight, two winged tulpars rearing on either side, the star above and the country's name on the ribbon beneath. Master Hrachya Ohanyan carved the whole emblem in relief inside a round rope-ringed frame, set it on a stippled ground with carved lattice around it, and cut the board in the curved, stepped contour outline that is the workshop's signature. A luxury wooden backgammon set for anyone who calls the steppe home, hand-carved from a single piece of wood.

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 — nardy, as it is called from Almaty to Astana — for the table where the tea never runs out and the game never quite ends.

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 Kazakhstan carved in relief inside a round rope-ringed frame; stippled ground, lattice, rope border, 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

• The emblem carved by hand: the shanyrak, the rays, the wings of the tulpars and the lettering on the ribbon are all cut into the wood in the Hrachya Ohanyan workshop — 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.

Is the carving real? Yes. The emblem, the rope ring, the lattice and the wheel ornaments inside are all cut into the wood by hand, not printed or pressed — run a finger across the rays and you feel every one.

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 Shanyrak and the Tulpars

Kazakhstan's emblem, adopted in 1992, puts the shanyrak at its heart — the wooden ring at the top of a yurt through which the smoke rises and the sky looks in. It stands for home, hearth and the family gathered under one roof; the rays spreading from it are the light coming through. The two tulpars, the winged horses of Kazakh legend, stand for freedom and the courage of the steppe, and the five-pointed star for the road ahead. Carved on a nardy board — a game played at kitchen tables across the whole country — it is exactly the right emblem in exactly the right place.

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 Kazakh friend abroad, a business partner in Almaty or the father who taught you nardy, a hand-carved wooden backgammon set with the country's emblem on the cover is the backgammon gift set that needs no explanation. We send it at Christmas, for Nauryz in March and on Father's Day. It gets opened, played and passed on.