3.9" Lessing Staunton Chess Set - Ebony & Antiqued Boxwood Pieces with Board & Box

A complete set in the Lessing pattern — the last Staunton design produced by Jaques of London, made between 1927 and 1937 — with a matching board and a storage box. The pieces are a close reproduction of the originals: dyed ebony on the dark side, boxwood with an antiqued lacquer that recreates the patina of old chessmen on the light side, and metal weights set into the base as Jaques did.

The Lessing is a player's design: no sharp edges or fragile carving, a solid, comfortable feel in the hand and a semi-gloss finish that shows the ebony grain up close. The knights are carved by hand.

What is in the set

• Pieces: Lessing pattern, dyed ebony and antiqued boxwood, weighted, semi-gloss finish; king 3.9 in (98 mm), set weight about 3.3 lb (1.5 kg)
• Board: 21 × 21 in (53 × 53 cm), 55 mm squares, 0.7 in (18 mm) thick, matt lacquer; printed veneer in the look of antiqued boxwood and ebony
• Box: leatherette coffer, 12.2 × 13 × 4.7 in (31 × 33 × 12 cm), felt-lined trays for kings of 3.5–4.1 in

Piece sizes

Good to know

The board is made from printed veneer sheets rather than solid wood, which makes it more stable: it is guaranteed for 3 years against cracking and warping. Its matt finish keeps glare low over a long game. Board and box also suit other historical reproductions with a 3.5–4.1-inch king.

A wooden board and boxwood pieces will outlast you if you keep two things away from them: water and extremes. Everything below follows from that.

The board

Keep it dry. Water lifts veneer and swells solid wood; a spilled glass should be wiped at once. Keep it out of direct sun and away from radiators, air conditioners and fans: heat and dry air make wood shrink, humidity makes it swell, and a board that lives next to a heater will eventually gap at the joints.

Dust it with a dry, soft cloth. Smudges and fingerprints come off with a cloth that is barely damp. If the surface feels sticky, wipe it dry. Once a month or so, a little beeswax or a furniture polish such as 3M keeps the lacquered boards looking new; our boards have a melamine lacquer that takes polish well.

The pieces

Boxwood wants the same thing as the board: no damp, no heat. Store the set in its box or pouch, not on a windowsill. Do not use polish on the pieces; a dry cloth is all they need. A piece that has taken a knock can be re-felted; write to us.

Folding and travel boards

Close them with the pieces inside their compartment, not loose on the board. Magnets do not mind temperature, but the felt does mind damp, so dry a travel set that has been in the rain before it goes back in the bag.

If something has gone wrong with a set, see the warranty or write to shop@worldchess.com.

Orders over $300 ship free to the US, UK and EU. Return any order within 14 days of delivery.

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