Snarling Wolf Backgammon Set with Classic Outline

Snarling Wolf Backgammon Set with Classic Outline by Hrachya Ohanyan

A wolf's head face-on, teeth bared, carved pale on a ground of tiny stars with a small octagram either side and deep leaf scrolls in the corners. This is the 60 cm / 23.6″ wooden backgammon set made by Hrachya Ohanyan, classic outline. Handmade in beech, with 32 wooden checkers, dice and a carrying bag.

This is the board for the player who wants the wolf looking straight at the table — not howling at a moon, snarling — on a beech body, plainly priced. The head is cut in relief and left paler than the ground: ears up, brow furrowed, muzzle wrinkled over bared teeth, every tuft of the ruff a separate stroke; no disc, the wolf sits straight on the stippled field, a small eight-point star at each shoulder and leaf scrolls curling in from all four corners in high relief.

Inside, a honey-brown field with pale drop-tipped points, a petal wheel cut into each half and a plain brass hinge; the back cover carries the same corner scrolls on the stippled ground. For the hunting cabin, the motorbike garage, and the player who wants a board with a bit of menace on the lid.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, stained honey brown and varnished, the wolf left paler
• Carving: snarling wolf head face-on in relief on a star-stippled ground; two small octagrams either side; leaf scrolls in deep relief in the four corners; rope-and-bead border; corner scrolls on the back
• Outline: Classic — a square frame with a moulded rim
• Hardware: brass hinges and clasps
• Craftsmanship: entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Hand-carved backgammon board
• 32 beech and walnut checkers
• Dice set
• Black carrying bag

Why You'll Love It

• Straight at you: the wolf is carved face-on with the teeth bared, so it meets the eye from across the room — the other wolf boards howl in profile.
• No disc, no frame: the head sits straight on the stippled field with the scrolls curling in round it, so the whole lid reads as one picture.
• 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 wolf carved? Yes — the head is cut in relief from the beech and left paler than the stain, with the ground lowered and stippled with tiny stars around it; the fur is worked stroke by stroke and the teeth are cut clean. The corner scrolls stand well clear of the ground. Varnish over all; 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 bag.

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.