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Chess November 18, 2023

The Birth of the Staunton Pattern Design

Table of Contents

Origin of Staunton Pattern Design
Some Examples of Popular Staunton Chess Sets
Fierce Knight Staunton Series Chess Pieces
The Staunton Series (Jaques Pattern) Chess Pieces
The Old Collector’s Club Staunton Series Chess Pieces
The Ultimate Series Staunton Chess Pieces

The word “Staunton” in the “Staunton Chess Sets” has been derived from the famous chess master Howard Staunton. English chess master ‘Howard Staunton’ was one of the greatest chess player in the years between 1843 & 1851. It was due to his efforts that England became the one of the major chess centre in late 19^th Century. He was not only a chess player, but also a chess promoter, writer and organizer. The Staunton Pattern Chess Set was designed in 1859 by Nathaniel and Jaques of London approved their manufacturing rights. Howard Staunton advertised this chess set made by Nathaniel and the set became popular under the name Staunton chess set. These chess sets have been used all over the world in all major tournaments since. Some common attributes you may find in all Staunton pieces are wide moulded base, Knight basically has head and neck like a horse, King has a stylish crown with cross pattee, Queen is slightly smaller than king with a small round ball mount on her head, Rooks feature stylized crenellated battlements and bishops a Western-style mitre. Pawns are the smallest pieces in the game with round head.

Unfortunately, finding a good and accurate Staunton chess set and matching chess board is not that easy. Most of the online chess stores are selling their chess pieces and chess boards separately either for a casual chess player or for a newbie; it is quite difficult task to match the chess pieces with a correct matching chess board. To make it easier for everyone to choose the right chess pieces with the right board, we have added the matching appropriate sized chess board as on our every product listing of chess pieces. Please refer to the below attached screenshot for more clear understanding.

If you are looking for chess board to match an existing set of pieces then keep these points in your mind before picking up the one.

Staunton chess pieces are available in different colors, materials, sizes and weights. When matching pieces to a chess board, the size and wood color must be considered. The chess board should be approximately half (in cm) the height of the King (in mm).

Here are some predefined standard sizes:

70mm chess king suits a 40cm chess board

85mm chess king suits a 45-50cm chess board.

95mm chess king suits a 50-55cm chess board.

105mm-110mm chess king suits a 55cm-60cm chess board.

Note: If you can’t find your chess piece dimensions in a given standard size chart then use a larger chessboard square by up to 25%. Buying a smaller square size board will risk crowding the pieces. We have a great range of veneer chess boards, tournament chess boards.

Our Staunton chess pieces range starts from as low as $44 with a variety of sizes. Every single listing of the chess pieces on our website is matched up with a suitable chess board. Browse our Staunton range here.

Some Examples of Popular Staunton Chess Sets

Fierce Knight Staunton Series Chess Pieces in Bud Rosewood & Box Wood – 4.0″ King

Based on Staunton pattern style this set of chess pieces not only incredible but also fully functional. Made up from bud rose wood and boxwood, this weighted masterpiece truly gives chess player a fantastic gaming experience. And because of this people from across the globe ordered this phenomenal handcrafted creation from us with full enthusiasm.

Do you also want to pick up chess pieces that fascinate you from a touch, feel, and style perspective? It’s for you—just make it a purchase and get what you want!

You can shop this masterpiece from online chess store in different wood combinations:

Fierce Knight Staunton Series Chess Pieces In Rosewood & Box Wood – 4.1″ King – Currently In Production

The Fierce Knight Staunton Wooden Chess Pieces in Sheesham & Box Wood – 4.0″ King – Currently in backorder: ETA by Mid of November

The Fierce Knight Staunton Wooden Chess Pieces in Ebonized Boxwood & Box Wood – 4.0″ King

The Staunton Series (Jaques Pattern) Chess Pieces in Ebony & Box Wood – 3.4″ King

If you’re in search of chess pieces with impeccable craftsmanship, premium quality, and the classic Staunton pattern style—all in one place, then the Staunton Series (Jaques Pattern) Chess Pieces in Ebony & Box Wood are perfect for you.

Well if you are who want matching board and storage solution with this chess pieces, we’ve provided an exclusive OPTIONAL opporunity that help you buying complete chess set without searching here and there. With this product, we have included optional bundle opportunity(for your ease) on chess board and storage items, if you need a complete chess set you can add items like chess board and storage box or pouch with additional price.We have these Staunton-style chess pieces in different wood combinations.

If you are someone who likes the Bud Rose & Box Wood variant, you can order it here, and we would feel very fortunate to fulfill your specific needs. If you have something in your mind related to chess pieces, style, size and pattern, would love to hear from you through our custom chess pieces dedicated specific solution.

The Old Collector’s Club Staunton Series Chess Pieces in Ebony and Boxwood – 4.4″ King

The Old Collector’s Club Staunton Series Chess Pieces in Ebony and Boxwood, with a majestic 4.4″ King, Having the elegance of true craftsmanship, this Staunton series chess pieces help you checkmate any game with different level of players in the club.

Based on Staunton design pattern these chess pieces are handcrafted from the finest ebony and boxwood. Each piece is a masterpiece in itself, exuding a sense of history and tradition that resonates with chess enthusiasts and collectors alike. Elevate your chess experience with this finest quality chess pieces, where every move becomes a journey through the rich heritage of the game.

Hurry up, order today for yourself.

One can buy this masterpiece in different wood combination in Red Bud Rose & Box Wood by clicking on the mentioned link.

The Ultimate Series Staunton Chess Pieces Only in Ebonized / Boxwood – 3.75″ King

Spectacular style, stunning look and weighted pieces, all qualities you get when you buy this ultimate series Staunton chess pieces from us.

The Ultimate Series Staunton Chess Pieces Only in Ebonized and Boxwood — The Ultimate Series Staunton Chess Pieces Only in Ebonized / Boxwood – 3.75″ King

Suited for tournament as it’s having standard 3.75″ King. Crafted with precision, the dark chess pieces are made of ebonized boxwood, while the opposing pieces are fashioned from traditional boxwood for the white side. Boxwood, known for its ease of workmanship, highlights intricate aesthetic details. The set includes complimentary extra queens for seamless pawn promotion. Each chess piece is expertly carved and weighted, providing a fantastic hand-feel and a satisfying thud on the wooden chessboard.

All pieces feature unique designs and thick green felts that snugly envelop the base, ensuring smooth movement on the chessboard. The knights, representing the pinnacle of Indian artisan skill, are meticulously crafted with attention to detail in the eyes, nostrils, pinned ears, and mane.

Buy today and experience a more amazing and interesting game of chess.

This is all about different Staunton design pattern chess pieces, we love to hear back from you about your favorite Staunton style chess pieces from chessbazaar here in the comment section. For latest updates please follow and subscribe us on our social media channels, Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube channel.

Evolution of Chess Sets April 19, 2023

What is Staunton Chess Designs? Its Evolution and a Bit of History!

When something is not working a loud cry hails for a new invention, this is exactly how world-renowned Staunton chess sets design came into existence, which later became the official international standard.

Staunton chess sets design refer to a particular style of chess pieces that were first introduced by Nathaniel Cook and designed by John Jaques of London in 1849. These pieces are now the standard design for tournament play and are recognized by chess players and enthusiasts worldwide.

The Staunton design features a particular set of distinctive, hand-carved chess pieces with specific characteristics, including a king that is 3.75 inches tall, a queen that is 3.25 inches tall, and knights that are 2.75 inches tall. The pieces are designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with a simple yet elegant appearance that is easy to distinguish on the board.

The Staunton chess design was named after Howard Staunton, an English chess player, and writer who was regarded as the leading chess player of his time. Staunton was a strong advocate for standardizing the design of chess pieces, and he endorsed the design that now bears his name. The Staunton design quickly became popular and has since become the standard design for chess sets used in tournaments and matches around the world.

Img1: 3.5″ unweighted set in Carton Pierre Casket 1849 “Cook knights”

Problems in Earlier chess sets:

In the first half of the 19th century there were English Barleycorn chess sets, the St. George chess sets, the French Regence chess sets. The problem with existing chess sets was that they were tall with less weight which resulted in falling or tipping of chess pieces while playing the game. Intricate designs, and light weighted chess sets were a turn-off for the players. Another major disadvantage was the similarity of the pieces within a set, player’s unfamiliarity with an opponent’s set could alter the outcome of a game with one wrong move. In addition they had decorative features which made them fragile and created a possibility of breakage.

About Staunton Chess set

The set was revolutionary as it solved most of the problems chess players faced while playing. It didn’t have messy decorative features most likely to damage and also had wide bases. Also, there was lead added the wooden chess pieces for better weight and stability. Made without frills, the Staunton sets were also the low cost which made them accessible to the masses and made them more popular. The style was stable and simple and not at all fragile in any sense.

Some distinct features of Staunton chess pieces:

King being tallest piece, and a cross on his head, Rook’s top shown as a castle, Knight being depicted with a horse head attracted many around the world.

The distinctive features of Staunton chess designs include:

Balanced design: The Staunton design features a well-balanced set of chess pieces, with the pieces being proportionate to each other in terms of size and weight.
Simplified design: The design is simple yet elegant, with each piece having a distinctive shape and size that is easy to distinguish from the others.
Standardized design: The Staunton design has become the standard for tournament play and is recognized by chess players worldwide.
King and Queen design: The king and queen are the tallest pieces on the board, with the king standing at 3.75 inches tall and the queen at 3.25 inches tall. They both have a rounded crown, with the king having a cross on top and the queen having a coronet.
Knight design: The knight is represented by a horse’s head and neck, with one ear pointing forward and the other pointing backward. The knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces.
Bishop design: The bishop has a mitre-shaped head and a long, narrow body that distinguishes it from the other pieces.
Rook design: The rook is represented by a castle-shaped tower, with a crenellated top that gives it a distinctive appearance.

There are 17 variants of the original 1849 Staunton Chess Set classified as follows:

1) Wedgewood chess set (1849)
2) Leuchars chess set (1849)
3) Cooke chess set (1849–1850)
4) Morphy chess set (1851) – characterized by “Morphy” knights, which have pronounced jowls versus other designs of knights
5) Harrwitz chess set (1852–55)
6) Paulsen chess set (1853–1855)
7) Anderssen chess set (1855–65)
8) Steinitz chess set (1865–70)
9) Tarrasch chess set (1870–1875)
10) Zukertort chess set (1875–80)
11) Lasker chess set (1880–85)
12) Pre-Hartston chess set (1885–1890)
13) Hartston chess set (1890–1900)
14) Marshall chess set (1900–15)
15) Broadbent chess set (1925–37)
16) Nimzovitch chess set (1927–1937)
17) Lessing chess set (1927–1937)
Img2: Group of early and later Jaques knights.

Naming the Revolutionary Chess Set

The Chess design is named after Howard Staunton who was a notable strong chess player at the time. He was an English chess master who is generally regarded as having been the world’s strongest player from 1843 to 1851. Nathaniel Cook (editor in the Illustrated London News) urged & convinced the champion to endorse and give his name to the newly invented chess design, the Staunton Design.

Later, Howard Staunton not only endorsed the product but promoted it to an exceptional degree including the remonstration and ridiculing of any other design of chessmen then proposed. The Staunton style soon became the standard on which most tournament-playing pieces have been made and used around the world ever since. The low cost of the Staunton set allowed the masses to purchase it and helped to give mass appeal to the game of chess.

Today’s Jaques Chess Reproductions

chessbazaar with inputs from famous chess restorer Mr. Alan Dewey have collaborated on a number of reproductions. These reproductions have been applauded by the chess collector community around the world.

Reproduced 1849 Original Staunton Pattern Triple Weighted Chess Pieces

1. 1849 Chess Set Reproduction: chessbazaar is proud to announce the version 3 of 1849 available in three variant, the 4.4″ King size 1849 in an antique finish, the 4.4″ King size 1849 in a red and ivory white finish and the 3.75″ King tournament size 1849 in boxwood and genuine ebony. The knights and rooks of all the variants come with kingside stamping.

Reproduced 1851 Morphy Chess Pieces Only V2.0

2. Reproduced 1851 Morphy Chess Set: We reproduce 1851 Staunton Pattern Chess Set with “Morphy” knights in 4.4″ king size. A rook and a knight on each side come with kingside stamping which was a norm with Staunton chess sets at that time. All the pieces are heavily weighted which gives them extra stability on the chess board and feels good to hold and play with them. Thick green felt has been fixed on the base of the pieces which protects the board, minimizing noise while playing and looks classy on the rim of the base of pieces. The boxwood has been given antiqued finish by a special secret process which makes the set look like an original time chess set and the set weighs approx 2000 grams.

Reproduced Circa 1852 Harrwitz Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces

3. Reproduced 1852 Harrwitz Chess Set: The original antique 1852 Harrwitz set in the playable condition is very very hard to find and may cost thousands of dollars if available. Our Repro Circa 1852 Harrwitz Staunton Chess Set is a humble try to bring this legendary design to life and to let chess enthusiasts experience the game with this beautiful chess set which hitherto was not possible. The King proudly stands 4.5″ tall with a base diameter of 2 inches. The set comes with free extra queens for pawn promotion.

Reproduced Antique 1860 Anderssen Drop Jaw Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces

4. Reproduced Antique 1860 Anderssen Drop Jaw Chess Set: The original 1860 Anderssen Drop Jaw Staunton Pattern Chess Set in playable condition is very hard to find and may cost thousands of dollars if available. The King in this set stands 4.5″ tall with a base diameter of 1.8 inches. It comes with antique finish and king-side stamping.

Reproduced Antique 1865-70 Steinitz Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces in Ebony / Box Wood

5. Reproduced Antique 1865-70 Steinitz Chess Set: Reproduced Antique 1865-70 Steinitz Staunton Pattern chess set is handcrafted in genuine ebony wood and boxwood. The King is 3.75″ (Tournament Size) with a base diameter of 1.65 inches. The set comes with free extra queens for pawn promotion. Pieces have unique rings and thick green felts.

Reproduced Antique 1885 Pre-Hartston Staunton Pattern Chess Pieces in Ebony / Antiqued Box Wood

6. Reproduced Antique 1885 Pre-Hartston Chess Set: The reproduction of 1885 comes in 4.4″ King size with antique finish and king-side stamping. The Knights are somewhat similar to the 1900 Marshal knights, vertical miter of the bishops is charming. All chess pieces have a very wide base. The King in the set is 4.5″ tall with a base diameter of 1.92 inches.

7. Reproduced Antique 1900 Marshal Chess Set: Our repro of 1900 Marshal Staunton pattern chess set is a humble try to bring this legendary design to life and to let chess enthusiasts experience the game with this beautiful chess set. Reproduced Antique 1900 Marshal Staunton Pattern chess set is handcrafted in genuine ebony wood and antiqued boxwood. The King is 3.75″ high (Tournament Size) with a base diameter of 1.69 inches. The set comes in Antique finish and king-side stamping.

Did You Know!

Staunton chess sets by Jaques of London are also believed to be used in World War 2 by MI9 (the British Directorate of Military Intelligence Section 9). Chess pieces and sets were hollowed out to hold secrete maps, currency, documents, hacksaw blades and swinger compasses”, constructed to help British and American prisoners of war.

This famous set was made available to common public on September 29, 1849, & is now popularly called “The Staunton” and the rest is history.

In today’s world, available Staunton designs may be fake or of low quality as there are very few people in the industry who can match the finish of Staunton sets, finding the right Staunton chess set may be a little difficult for a new budding chess player. We here at chessbazaar.com provide the exact replicas of Staunton chess designs.

Some Interesting Facts about Staunton Chess Sets

The Staunton chess design was named after Howard Staunton, a prominent English chess player and writer who lived in the 19th century. He was a strong advocate for standardizing the design of chess pieces.
The original Staunton chess set was designed and manufactured by John Jaques of London in 1849. Jaques was a well-known maker of high-quality games and sports equipment.
The Staunton design quickly became popular and is now the standard design for tournament play. The World Chess Federation (FIDE) recommends the use of the Staunton design for official chess tournaments.
Staunton chess sets are made from a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, and metal. Some of the most expensive sets are made from rare and exotic materials, such as ivory or ebony.
Staunton chess sets have been used in many famous chess matches throughout history, including the famous “Match of the Century” between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in 1972.
Some Staunton chess sets are considered works of art and are highly collectible. Rare and antique sets can fetch high prices at auction, with some selling for tens of thousands of dollars.
The Staunton design has been adapted for use in many different types of chess sets, including travel sets, magnetic sets, and giant outdoor sets.

Overall, the Staunton chess set is an iconic design that has become synonymous with the game of chess. It has a rich history and continues to be popular among chess players and collectors around the world.