Armenian Backgammon Set Hand Carved - Mount Ararat and Wheat Ear in Deep Relief

Armenian Backgammon Set Hand Carved - Mount Ararat and Wheat Ear in Deep Relief, by Hrachya Ohanyan

The peaks sit inside a double rope ring on this Armenian backgammon set, the field dished so deep that the snow line catches its own shadow. A 23.6″ / 60 cm board in dark chestnut-stained beech, hand-carved by master Hrachya Ohanyan; checkers, dice set and carrying case supplied.

Two rope-and-bead rings, one inside the other, hold a scene carved lower than on any other Ararat board in the workshop: the mountain rises from a hollowed field, the sky behind it worked into a fine cross-hatch, a road of carved stones climbing toward the peaks, sun rays raked across the plain and a wheat ear standing in front. Around the rings the lid is a fine star lattice with cusped, moulded panels at either end, and the back cover carries two eternity whirls cut just as deep inside their own rope frames. Open the cast-bronze clasps and each half shows a wheel ornament in a scrolled ring, points in pale and dark wood tipped with fleur-de-lys, and an ornate bronze hinge on the bar. The version for the buyer who wants the carving noticed first — the dining room, the office, the man who has seen the other boards. Also known as nardi (нарды), nardy, tavla or shesh besh.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, stained dark chestnut and varnished
• Motif: Mount Ararat with a stone road, sun rays and a wheat ear, deep relief in a hollowed field inside a double rope-and-bead ring; fine star lattice; two eternity whirls on the back
• Outline: Classic — the square frame with a moulded rim
• Hardware: cast-bronze hinges and clasps
• Handmade in Armenia 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

• Deeper than the rest: the field is hollowed and the peaks stand out of it — the most sculptural Ararat in the Hrachya Ohanyan range, in a double rope ring.
• Every surface worked: star lattice, cusped panels, rope borders, whirls on the back and ornaments inside — there is no plain wood on this board.
• Make it theirs: add a name or a date at checkout and it becomes a personalized backgammon set.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Is the carving real? Yes, and deeper than usual. The field inside the rings is hollowed out first, then the mountain, road, rays and wheat ear are carved standing out of it; the sky is cross-hatched by hand, the lattice and both rope rings are cut into the beech, and the whirls on the back are relief too. Nothing is printed; the dark colour is a stain under the varnish.

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.

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.

Why the Field Is Hollowed

A carver who wants a mountain to look tall has two choices: raise the peaks or lower the plain. Lowering the plain is harder — more wood to remove, more chances to go through — but it is what makes the summit throw a shadow at four in the afternoon, the hour the real Ararat looks best from Yerevan. That is the whole difference between this board and its flatter cousins.

About the Artist - Hrachya Ohanyan

National Master Hrachya Ohanyan began his fine wood craft in 1985 and founded his workshop in Yerevan in 2010. Every board passes through 14 stages of production and 14 pairs of hands before it is finished. Read the story of master Hrachya Ohanyan or explore the full Hrachya Ohanyan backgammon collection.

A Gift That Lasts

For the man who already owns a good board and has opinions about it — a retirement, a sixtieth, a business partner in the diaspora — with his name cut into the wood if you like.