Roaring Lion Backgammon Set in Deep Relief, Classic Outline

Roaring Lion Backgammon Set in Deep Relief, Classic Outline by Hrachya Ohanyan

A roaring lion — jaw open, teeth bared, the mane cut in thick strands — carved in deep relief on a round stippled panel, set in a lobed cartouche of faceted lattice with rope borders. This is the 60 cm / 23.6″ wooden backgammon set made by Hrachya Ohanyan. Handmade in beech, 32 checkers, dice, branded case.

This is the board for the Leo birthday, the study with the leather chair, and the player who wants a carved lid that reads across the room. The lion is the deepest carving on the board — the mane stands off the panel, the tongue sits behind the teeth — and the ground round it is a fine chip-carved stipple; beyond the cartouche the lid is a lattice of faceted diamonds cut like scales, with lobed panels at each end and a twisted rope round every border.

A dark field inside, pale points with fleur-de-lys tips in a scalloped rim, a petal wheel ringed with scrolls on each half, the maker's stamped hinge at the bar. Shut and turned over, the lattice comes back round a chequerboard of pale and stained squares with an eternity whirl at each end. For the law office, the man cave, and the player who wants the lion's share of the carving.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, carved from the solid, stained walnut brown and varnished, the pale points left bare
• Carving: a roaring lion's head in deep relief on a round panel with a rope border and a chip-carved stipple ground, set in a lobed cartouche; a lattice of faceted diamonds with rope borders and lobed end panels over the rest of the lid; on the back, a chequerboard of pale and stained squares between two eternity whirls on stippled lobed panels; inside, a scalloped rim, pale fleur-de-lys-tipped points and a petal wheel in a scrolled ring on each half
• Outline: Classic — a square frame with a moulded rim
• 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 with the roaring lion in deep relief
• 32 beech and walnut checkers with velvet bases
• Dice set cut from billiard balls
• Branded carrying case

Why You'll Love It

• Full relief, full roar: the head stands clear of its round panel — mane in thick strands, jaw open to the back teeth — cut from the solid beech, with a chip-carved stipple ground behind it.
• Carved to the edges: beyond the lion the whole lid is worked — a lattice of faceted diamonds like scales, lobed end panels, twisted rope round every border — and the back carries the same lattice round a chequerboard and two eternity whirls.
• 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

How deep is the carving? Deep enough to throw a shadow: the lion's head is cut in full relief from the solid beech — the mane in separate strands, the jaw open with the teeth and tongue inside — on a round panel with a chip-carved stipple ground. The lattice, the rope borders, the eternity whirls and the chequerboard on the back are carved and stained in the same wood, and the board is varnished. 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 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.