British Chess Company Improved Royal Chessmen, UK 1901/1902 Reproduction 4” Antique chess set in Ebony wood

Staunton Castle proudly present their very latest, well-researched and precisely carved reproduction – British Chess Company Improved Royal Chessmen, UK, 1901-02.

Original Set Image:

This was a popular precursor of the Staunton pattern and is thought to have partly inspired the first Staunton design.

This chess set was made of Box wood and Ebony wood by the British Chess Company (BCC) in 1901-02 and sold under the name of “Improved Royal Chess men”.

Whereas in earlier BCC sets the Kings usually have a cross finial, in the later versions, such as improved Royal, the Kings came with a ball finial. The Queens in the BCC sets are characterized by coronets with eight points. The Rook in the improved Royal sets are little bit extra tall as compare to their other chess designs. The Bishops have tall split miters which gives very beautiful look to them. The King and Queen are both imposing and elegant with flared columns and the same shape of top finial, the knights are very unique carved horse’s head resting on the top of a solid base which looks little bit cylindrical from its top edge. We are so thankful to our artisans to carve this knight resembles to the original knight. The Pawns have a balanced geometry with stable wide bases and rounded heads and with double collars which distinguishes this chess set from other chess sets of BCC.

The features of this chess sets are described as follows:

• Material: This chess set is made in distressed antiqued look and Ebony wood.
• This chess set in coming with two extra Queens for Pawn promotion
• The high quality green felt is pasted on the bases.
• All the pieces are heavy weighted and the well balanced with the box wood and ebony side army
• Total weight of this chess set is 1900 grams
• Following are the sizes of this chess set:

# King height: 4” Base size: 1.75”

# Queen height: 3.25” Base Size: 1.5”

# Bishop height: 2.75” Base size: 1.375”

# Knight height: 2.5” Base size: 1.375”

# Rook height: 2.5” Base size: 1.375”

# Pawn height: 1.875” Base size: 1.125”

• The recommended board size is 2” or 2.125” square size