1849 STAUNTON
4.4″ Chessmen

In the 19th century, London and especially its Fleet Street, were the centre of the world’s chess manufacturing. Up to the middle of the century, however, chess pieces were ununified and unstandardized in their design. In addition, they were weak and unstable, having been equipped with narrow base diameters.

A new leaf in the design of chessmen was turned over when Nathaniel Cooke patented a whole new kind of chess set in 1849. It was named after the best chess player of the time, Howard Staunton. Soon this revolutionary design achieved great success and it has been the standard chess pattern ever since.

Our own 1849 Staunton chessmen are very accurately based on the original Jaques London chess design from that year. The stamps at the bottom of the King and the Kingside Rook and Knight are not replicated. As was the case in 1849, it is available in ebony / boxwood (with antiqued finish) as well as a magnificent boxwood / padauk combination. The pieces are heavily weighted for optimal playing experience and quality. The first-class materials and perfect, 100% hand-made manufacturing ensure that this masterpiece will last from generation to generation.

This reproduction is also available as a set combined with a brilliant Spanish-made chess board. See the 1849 Andalucia chess set.