Luxury Pomegranate Tree Walnut Backgammon Set with Basket Weave

Luxury Pomegranate Tree Walnut Backgammon Set with Basket Weave by Hrachya Ohanyan

A pomegranate tree of pale walnut — trunk, branches, every leaf — left standing over a pour of pearl-blue resin, its fruit drops of red, in a basket-weave lid. This is the 60 cm / 23.6″ luxury Armenian wooden backgammon set made by Hrachya Ohanyan, classic outline. Handmade in walnut, 32 checkers, dice from billiard balls and a branded case.

This is the board for the Armenian house that wants the tree of life on show, the wedding present nobody else will match, and the player who wants relief carving and colour together. The tree is the lid itself: cut round and left proud while the blue is poured into the disc around it, so every leaf stands as wood against the swirl of resin, and each pomegranate is a hollow filled with red. Either side, basket weave carved strand over strand; bead mouldings and lattice run the rim.

Open, the pearl-blue comes back under every carved scroll tip and in the ring round each petal wheel, and a stamped brass hinge sits on the bar; turn the closed board over and a chequerboard of blue resin and walnut squares lies between two more panels of basket weave. For the anniversary, the house with the blue tiles, and the player who wants the tree carved and the sky poured.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: walnut wood, natural colour, varnished; pearl-blue epoxy resin around the tree and in the points, red resin in the fruit
• Decoration: a pomegranate tree — trunk, curling branches and leaves — cut from the walnut and left standing over a pour of pearl-blue epoxy resin, with red resin fruit, sanded flush and polished, inside a rope-and-bead ring; basket weave carved strand over strand in cusped panels either side; diamond lattice, bead mouldings and acanthus corners on the rim; back cover with a chequerboard of blue resin and walnut squares between basket-weave panels; points and petal wheels in scrolled rings filled with blue resin inside
• Outline: Classic — straight edges and square corners
• Hardware: brass hinge stamped with the maker's mark, cast-bronze clasps
• Craftsmanship: entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Epoxy-inlaid walnut backgammon board, carved basket weave either side
• 32 beech and walnut checkers with velvet bases
• Dice set cut from billiard balls
• Branded carrying case

Why You'll Love It

• Wood tree, resin sky: the tree is walnut left standing and the blue is poured round it, so the leaves catch the light as wood and the sky behind them shimmers like pearl.
• Weave to the edge: the panels either side are basket weave cut strand over strand, and the rim is beaded and moulded — the carving is as much of the board as the colour.
• 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 tree carved or inlaid? Carved: the trunk, branches and leaves are the walnut lid itself, cut round and left standing while the disc around them is lowered and filled with pearl-blue resin, then sanded flush and polished; the pomegranates are small hollows filled with red resin. The basket weave and the rim mouldings are carved by hand, the points inside are poured blue, 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 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.