The JJ Cooke Edition Ebony and Montgoy Luxury Chess Set

• Beautifully crafted from ebony.
• Unique antiqued boxwood pieces.
• Superb detail and high quality finish.
• Broad felted bases.
• Towering 4.4 inch (11 cm) king.
• Weighted for perfect balance.
• Beautiful 23.6 inch Spanish board.
• Larger 2.5 inch playing squares.
• Real wood veneers.

When Nathaniel Cooke registered design number 58,607, “an ornamental design for a set of chess-men” under the British Ornamental Designs Act of 1842 on 1st March 1849, the Staunton Chessmen design made its way into official existence. He licensed the right to produce these chessmen, to the firm of John Jacques of London, highly acclaimed wood and ivory turners. Jacques was founded in 1795 and, remarkably, is still in business to this day.

The original run of Staunton chessmen is referred to as the “Cooke” design. Highly detailed and superbly finished, these Reproduction JJ Cooke Chessmen, with their 4.4-inch king, are handcrafted in high-quality ebony and boxwood by the same highly skilled craftsmen that produces some of the world's finest chessmen.

Our expert carvers have crafted these stunning pieces by initially turning solid wood and then, painstakingly, carving the pieces with beautiful their detailing. At 4.4 inches, the king is an imposing character and, along with his supporting army, is weighted for perfect balance. The chess men’s bases are covered with billiard cloth to protect your board.

The quality of the ebony and unique antiqued boxwood used in this set makes it not only an enviable acquisition but also a good investment and heirloom for future generations.

For the king’s height and his broad base, these lovely chessmen are best matched with this stunning Montgoy Palisander chess board from Spain. It is amongst one of the largest boards we stock but this particular one boasts the largest playing squares to accommodate these larger chessmen. Beautifully constructed by the world-famous Spanish chessboard maker Rechapados Ferrer, quality Montgoy palisander (rosewood) and maple veneers are used throughout. Even the board's base is constructed from quality wooden veneers.

Modern fabrication techniques are used to ensure chessboards with clean lines and meticulous attention to detail. The rosewood used is very rich in dark red and brown hues with a subtle grain running through. This contrasts beautifully with the lighter maple square and is perfect for matching with these ebony chessmen.

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.