Description of British Chess Company - Staunton Popular Chess Set, Board & Box Combination
THE CHESSMEN
In its continuing effort to document the illustrious history of the Staunton Chessmen, The House of Staunton is proud to introduce the first Chess set of our new British Chess Company Collection - The Staunton Popular. A full tournament-sized Chess set, it features a 4.0" King with a 1.625"diameter base. The Chess pieces are hand carved by our master artisans and crafted out of the highest grade woods. The Chess pieces are heavily weighted with luxurious billiard cloth base pads and a beautiful finish.
Unlike other Staunton Pattern sets of the period, in particular those offered by the rival firm Jaques of London, the Staunton Popular was designed for durability. When reviewing the images below, please note the tight Queen crenulations, the closed Bishop mitre and the compact design of the Knight. This is a set designed for serious play and able to withstand the most demanding usage. Which is exactly what the sets were subjected to at the Coffee houses that dominated London's Chess scene in the early 1900s. This set was designed to last and it did!
The most striking aspect of the BCC - Staunton Popular Series Chess Set is the beautiful patina on the Boxwood (White) Chessmen. Our artisans have accurately captured the rich, golden color commonly found on well preserved antique Chess sets. As with all of our Chess sets, the Popular Staunton Series exemplifies a perfect combination of distinct beauty and functionality. It has been designed to withstand the rigors of practical play while maintaining an elegance which has become the hallmark of a House of Staunton chess set.
The Chessmen are new and each set consists of 34 Chessmen, including four Queens, a standard that was introduced by The House of Staunton over 10 years ago.
The Chess Set comes with a personalized Certificate of Authenticity and a reproduction of the original British Chess Company production label indicating the production number, with an adhesive backing that would allow it to be affixed to the underside of a Chess box.
These pieces are made of antiqued boxwood and ebonized boxwood. Also known as faux Ebony, Ebonized Boxwood is created when Boxwood is treated with a specialized stain to create the look of Ebony. When done properly, it can be difficult to distinguish between an ebonized and ebony piece when brand new. It is perfect for those who want the classical look of a Genuine Ebony Chess set at an affordable price.
THE CHESSBOARD
The Superior Traditional Elm Burl / Maple wooden Chessboard with 2.25" Squares features Elm Burl (dark) and Maple (light) squares with a Maple delimited and an Elm Burl frame. This veneered Chessboard is 0.5" thick, has a satin finish and a beautiful moulded edge.
THE CHESSBOX
The Red Burl Premium Chess Box is lined in green velour, divided and features brass quadrant hinges and a lock and key. The British Chess Company logo is laser engraved on its lid.
- Material Used: Antiqued boxwood and ebonized boxwood (Hand Carved)
- King Height: 4"
- King Base Diameter: 1.625"
- Total Set Weight: 38 ounces
- Total Number of Pieces: 34 (includes extra queens)
- Board Size: 2.25" Squares