Luxury Interlaced Knot Backgammon Set with Acanthus Frame

Luxury Interlaced Knot Backgammon Set with Acanthus Frame by Hrachya Ohanyan

A knot of four leaf-tipped loops over carved basket weave, and around it a frame of acanthus scrolls as deep as the knot itself. This is the 60 cm / 23.6″ luxury wooden backgammon set made by Hrachya Ohanyan, on the classic outline. Handmade in beech, with 32 wooden checkers, dice cut from billiard balls and a branded carrying case.

This is the most worked lid in the collection, and it looks it. The knot sits on a raised weave inside a rope-and-bead ring; the ring sits inside a lobed frame of acanthus leaves, each one with its own curl and vein; and the frame sits on a stippled ground with diamond lattice at the corners. Three depths of carving on one cover, in a pale honey chestnut that shows every edge.

Inside, the playing side is kept plain on purpose: pale and dark points with fleur-de-lys tips, a wheel ornament in a scrolled ring on each half, an ornate bronze hinge on the bar. The back is carved too, lattice and acanthus flanking the centre. For the collector who already has the simpler boards — this is the one they were working up to.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, stained honey chestnut and varnished
• Carving: interlaced four-loop knot with leaf tips over a basket-weave ground in a rope-and-bead ring; lobed acanthus-scroll frame in deep relief; diamond lattice corners and rope border; lattice and acanthus panels on the back
• Outline: Classic — a square frame with a moulded rim
• Hardware: cast-bronze hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Hand-carved backgammon board
• 32 beech and walnut checkers with velvet bases
• Dice set cut from billiard balls
• Branded carrying case

Why You'll Love It

• Three depths on one lid: knot over weave, weave inside the ring, ring inside the acanthus — the eye keeps finding another layer.
• Honey, not dark: the lighter chestnut stain leaves every cut edge visible, so the carving reads from across the room and up close.
• 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

Is the carving real? Yes — every layer. The knot, the weave, the ring and the acanthus frame are carved into one piece of beech, and the lattice corners and rope border are cut into the same surface. Stain and varnish go on last; nothing is printed, pressed or added.

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 carrying 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.