The Calvert Antique and Palisander Chess Set

• Expertly handcrafted chess men.
• Beautifully ornate.
• 3.75 inch King.
• Weighted and felted.
• Stunning 17.75 inch (45.08 cms) board from Spain.
• 1.75 inch (4.45 cms) playing squares.

This superb Ornate Chess Set combines replicas of John Calvert of Fleet Street’s 19th century chess piece design with a Rechapados Ferrer Montgoy Palisander chess board. The end result is a unique chess set that hails back to the days before the Staunton design became mandatory in tournament play. At that time, in the late 18th century, John Calvert handmade his unmistakable chess pieces in a London workshop. At the turn of the century, he then came up with the set of chess pieces we have replicated here at Regency Chess.

The design is recognisable for the discs that make each midriff, and just as as Calvert did some 200 years ago, our partner craftsmen also hand turn these pieces. The knight, too, is quickly identifiable, with its hard geometric lines resembling a more contemporary look rather than the more horselike look to today’s knights. In this set, the most beautiful piece is the bishop with its elegant petals, clearly inspired by a Tulip.

To showcase this extraordinary set of ornate chess pieces, which boast a 3.75 King, is a Spanish board by Rechapados Ferrer. These Spanish artisans have been supplying us with luxury boards for a number of years and the Montgoy Palisander is arguably the most popular. This variety of Rosewood has a tight grain that ensures the chessboard is extremely sturdy. Of course, being created from Rosewood, this 17.75 Inch board is also extremely beautiful, it’s deep colour one of the few hues that compliment the stained Calvert Chessmen. It is worth noting that they are coloured this way in honour of when they were made, a time when reddish chess pieces were the fashion.

If you prefer to put your pieces away when not in use, this unique set is also available with a chess piece case

The chess board in this set has been expertly crafted by Rechapados Ferrer in Spain using precision laser cutting techniques and stunning wooden veneers combined with expert lacquering and finishing. The underside of the board is finished in a satin veneer that is a different colour from the playing surface of the board. The veneers used for the underside may vary in colour from batch to batch.