Luxury Walnut Chess & Backgammon Set - Ararat Outline 23.6" | 60 cm

Luxury Walnut Chess & Backgammon Set - Ararat Outline, by Hrachya Ohanyan

This board is shaped like the mountain. The whole silhouette of this luxury walnut chess set follows the outline of Mount Ararat — the two peaks rise along the top edge, and pale hornbeam wood is inlaid where the snow would be, so the mountain reads in light wood against the dark walnut before a single piece is placed. Around the checkered field runs a carved braid frame studded with cast bronze, and deep scrollwork is cut into the walnut at the corners. Carved from one piece of solid walnut, it is a hand-carved wooden chess set that belongs on a table people gather around.

Open the bronze clasps and it becomes a handmade backgammon set: carved points, a carved wheel ornament in the centre of each half, ornate cast-bronze hinges, checkers in two woods. At 23.6″ / 60 cm it is the large board — a luxury chess set and a chess and backgammon set in one carved walnut piece, and, for anyone with roots in Armenia, the mountain itself on the table.

Specifications

• Size: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Material: solid walnut wood with hornbeam wood inlay, hand-carved and varnished
• Motif: board cut in the Mount Ararat outline, carved braid frame, scrollwork corners, carved coordinates, wheel ornaments inside
• Hardware: cast-bronze hinges, clasps and coordinate studs
• Handmade in Armenia by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Chess and backgammon board with bronze hinges and clasps
• 32 hand-carved chess pieces made from beech and walnut wood, with velvet bases
• 32 checkers made from beech and walnut wood
• Dice set
• Branded carrying case

Why You'll Love It

• The mountain is the board: Ararat is not carved onto the frame here — the frame is cut to its shape, with hornbeam inlaid as snow.
• Solid walnut, carved by hand: braid, scrollwork, points and wheel ornaments are all cut into the walnut in the Hrachya Ohanyan workshop.
• Two games in one board: chess on the outside, backgammon inside — one heirloom on the shelf, two evenings of play.

Good to Know Before You Buy

How big is it? The chess board is 23.6″ / 60 cm across — our largest folding size, made for the table rather than the suitcase.

Is it a real chess and backgammon set? Yes. The chess board is on the outside; open it and the backgammon board with carved points is inside. Chess pieces, checkers and a dice set are all included.

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, a date or a few words turns it into a personalized chess 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 a soft brush for the braid, and store it closed in its case.

Mount Ararat

Ararat is the mountain every Armenian grows up looking at — two snow peaks on the horizon of Yerevan, on the coat of arms, on the label of the brandy and in half the songs. Most boards in the range carve it onto the frame; this one is cut to its shape, so the outline of the mountain becomes the outline of the game. The hornbeam inlay along the peaks is the snow that never leaves them.

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 chess set collection.

A Gift with a Mountain on It

A hand-carved walnut Ararat chess and backgammon set is the chess gift set we send for the occasions that matter most — a wedding, a milestone birthday, a Christmas or Father's Day for someone with Armenian roots. It arrives ready to play, in its own case, and the mountain does the rest.