Chess pieces - 4" Reintroduction Leather Box Chess Pieces & Leather Box

This stunning 4 inch Reintroduction Chess pieces with leather box is one of the most collectible chess sets ever made. Each of these sets is presented in a luxurious handmade leather presentation box cabinet complete with lock and key.

Jaques of London has been instrumental in the development and success of modern chess. Chess pieces before the mid 19th century were of two kinds - excessively elaborate and costly hand-carved reproductions of the Kings court, or rudely turned and daubed pieces in which rank was dictated by height alone. In the 1840s, this all changed. Nathaniel Cooke, proprietor of the Illustrated London News, brought John Jaques a new and elegant design for chessmen. Between the two of them, this initial design was polished to produce a set using symbols (for the king, a crown, for the bishop, a mitre) which could be easily recognised and reproduced. This radical design received rave reviews in the press, particularly for the exquisite design of the Knight, based on sculptures from the famous Elgin Marbles. Mr Howard Staunton, the first British chess World Champion, was so taken with the design that he agreed to have his name and signature adorn every box of pieces. The Staunton chess pieces, as it became known, is now the de facto standard for play at all levels. Few companies can say they influenced the development of a game the way Jaques of London has shaped the world's favourite board game, chess. This reintroduction chess pieces is an exact replica of the four inch Club Staunton set which was first made by Jaques in the early 1890’s, widely considered the greatest period in the Staunton Chess set's history. Presented in a fine, English leather box with miniature lock and key, this is a chess set people are sure to notice. Limited to just 250 sets, this is the perfect opportunity to be a part of Jaques Staunton Chess history - simply return your registration form after your purchase and you will be added onto the Jaques Staunton Chess History Archives. Buying this this special collector chess pieces today.

King: Base Diameter 45mm
Rook: Base Diameter 40mm
Pawn: Base Diameter 33mm