A luxury chess piece is as historic as it is beautiful, with finely crafted chessmen being a popular indulgence as far back as the 17th century. During the era when Louis XIV expanded his court at Versailles, chess culture was dominated by Italian masters.
The finest players were invited across Europe to compete for the entertainment of royalty. Victorious competitors were rewarded generously, admired for their intellect at a time when the Scientific Revolution reshaped the way the world thought and understood itself.
During this period, exhibition games were often played using extraordinarily luxurious chess pieces crafted from globally sourced materials. Ivory from West Africa and silver from Peru were among those once used by master craftsmen.
Today, we do not use any unethical materials such as ivory. Instead, our Regency Collection Staunton pieces are crafted only from sustainable, high-grade hardwoods selected for their weight, durability, and natural beauty.
We create our premium Staunton chessmen using a curated range of rare and beautiful woods:
One of the most visually striking woods we use is Red Sandalwood, found almost exclusively in the southern Indian mountain ranges such as the Shevaroy Hills and the Kalrayan region. The Eminence Series is a strong example of the quality this rare hardwood provides — producing heavy, lustrous chessmen with vivid depth and presence on the board.
Ebony, by contrast, is prized for its deep, almost endlessly rich black tone. Its density and polish give the dark side of a chess set an immediate sense of importance and authority.
Between these tones sits Rosewood, a warm and characterful hardwood sourced from eastern India. Although sometimes used medicinally, it has long been admired for fine decorative work. Our Sicilian Series showcases its qualities perfectly.
Another wood we use for a select few sets is Sheesham — also known as Golden Rosewood. Lightly toned, sustainable, and beautifully grained, it is the wood we trust for one of our best-selling sets: the Madrid Series Sheesham and Boxwood Chessmen (4 inches). These pieces are popular among players seeki
