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Nineteenth century Austrian chess pieces are one of the patterns that did not survive standardisation. Viennese and Bohemian workshops were turning distinctive sets right through the period, and then the Staunton design swept the tournament world and everything else became a curiosity.
This reproduction brings the pattern back at full size. A 108mm king on a 43mm base, and a step down through the officers that is steeper than the English convention: 94mm at the queen, then straight to 76mm at the bishop. Every piece is double weighted with an iron stud set into the base.
Two light finishes are offered against the same ebonised dark side. Golden antiqued boxwood reads as an aged honey tone; natural boxwood is left bright for higher contrast. It sits within our reproduction chess pieces.
Most reproductions we carry are English or Soviet in origin, and both traditions favour a gradual step down from king to pawn. Continental European patterns often did not. This one drops 18mm between the queen and the bishop, which gives the back rank a two tier look that reads as distinctly old.
The choice of light wood then decides how it reads on the board. Golden antiqued boxwood is taken away from bright white toward an oxidised honey tone, so the set never has the crisp new appearance of a natural pairing and contrast against the ebonised dark side is moderate. Natural boxwood keeps the light pieces bright, which separates the two sides faster under club lighting.
If contrast matters more to you than period character, take the natural boxwood option here, or look at the Staunton chess pieces range for a more familiar silhouette.
Before Staunton became compulsory, every major chess playing region had its own vocabulary of shapes. Vienna was one of the strongest chess cities in Europe through the second half of the nineteenth century, and workshops there and in Bohemia turned sets with tall kings, compact officers and a pronounced difference in scale between the royal pieces and the rest.
The pattern lost out for a practical reason rather than an aesthetic one. Tournament play needed pieces a visiting player could identify instantly, and the Staunton design had been engineered for exactly that. Regional patterns retreated to home use and then largely vanished, which is why a faithful reproduction is the only realistic way to own one.
Both options share the same ebonised dark side, the same dimensions, the same carving and the same iron weighting. The only difference is the light wood, and it changes the character of the set more than the description suggests.
Golden antiqued boxwood is finished to a warm oxidised honey, closest to how a surviving nineteenth century set looks today. Contrast against the ebonised pieces is moderate and the whole set reads as period. Natural boxwood is left bright, so the two sides separate instantly and the set looks newly turned rather than aged. The golden antiqued option is marginally the heavier at 1,360g against 1,280g.
The 43mm king base puts this set on 55mm squares, which is standard tournament sizing. The compact officers help here: with the bishop on a 36mm base there is more visual space around the back rank than the king height alone would suggest.
No board ships with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the 55mm requirement directly.
The reason to own this set is that the Austrian pattern is genuinely uncommon and this reproduction does not soften it. The steep drop from the queen to the bishop is the pattern working, not a proportion error, and the iron weighted bases give a settled feel that the modest weight does not advertise. The choice between the two light woods is the real decision: golden antiqued for period character and a warmer board, natural boxwood if you want the two sides to separate instantly. Under poor club lighting the golden antiqued option is noticeably slower to read, so pick accordingly.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm, standard tournament sizing. That comes from the 43mm king base rather than the 108mm height.
Only the light pieces. Golden antiqued boxwood is an aged honey tone with moderate contrast against the ebonised dark side. Natural boxwood is left bright for high contrast. Dimensions, carving and weighting are identical, and the golden antiqued set is marginally heavier at 1,360g against 1,280g.
No. The dark pieces are ebonised boxwood, taken to a deep black finish. Genuine ebony sets are available elsewhere in our wood chess pieces range.
Double weighted, with an iron stud set into the base of each piece and covered with thick green felt.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately and no storage box ships with the set.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
108mm (4.27 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
43mm (1.71 inch) |
|
Queen height |
94mm (3.74 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
41mm (1.60 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
76mm (3.06 inch) |
|
Knight height |
69mm (2.73 inch) |
|
Rook height |
62mm (2.46 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
53mm (2.10 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
36mm (1.43 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Ebonised boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Light pieces |
Golden antiqued or natural boxwood, by option |
|
Weighting |
Double weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,360g in golden antiqued, 1,280g in natural boxwood |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in the finish option you select
2 spare queens, one per colour
Chess board not included
Storage box not included
All products sold by Sterling Chess are backed by a 12 month limited manufacturer warranty. This covers manufacturing defects and cracking, and ensures every product is 100% genuine. If you need assistance, our team is only a call or email away.
Is shipping really free?
Yes — we offer free standard shipping on all orders across Australia, with no minimum spend. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay.
Are there any exceptions to free shipping?
No exceptions. Every order ships free, regardless of size, weight, or order value.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days, with delivery times depending on your location. You'll receive tracking details by email once your order is on its way.
Do you ship to all areas of Australia?
Yes, we deliver Australia-wide, including regional and remote areas — all at no shipping cost to you.
Can I track my order?
Absolutely. As soon as your order ships, we'll email you a tracking number so you can follow its journey to your door.
What if I need my order quickly?
Get in touch before ordering and we'll do our best to help. Standard shipping is free, and we'll advise on the fastest available option for your area. To contact us, simply email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au, call (03) 7037 0931 or open the live chat.
Changed your mind? You can return unused, unopened items within 100 days of your order date, provided they’re in original packaging and resaleable condition. Sterling Chess will cover the cost of shipping return items under our 100-day free returns policy.
All Sterling Chess products are backed by Australian Consumer Law and include a minimum 12-month Australian warranty. If there’s an issue with your product, our team is here to help and will work to make it right.
Click here to view our full returns policy.
If you're shopping for a new chess set, you're in the right place—and here's why.
1. We know chess inside and out
At Sterling Chess, we're not just another online store. We’re chess lovers, players, collectors, and game night fanatics.
That means we care about quality, balance, and feel—and we only stock sets we’d use ourselves. From tournament-grade boards to handcrafted wooden pieces, we’ve got what real players want.
2. Unmatched variety for every player
Whether you're just learning or a lifelong grandmaster, we have something for you.
Looking for a folding set for travel? A stunning showpiece for your home? A kid-friendly set for your budding chess champion? We’ve got it all—and more.
3. Fast and FREE shipping on all orders
Shipping is FREE on all Sterling Chess orders.
We ship quickly from local and international warehouses, so you’re not waiting weeks to get your game on.
Most orders are packed and sent within 24–48 hours. Plus, you’ll get tracking updates every step of the way.
4. Customer support that actually helps
Have a question? Need help choosing a set? Our friendly team is ready to help—no scripts, no bots, just real people who care about your experience.
You can call our team anytime between business hours on (03) 7037 0931 or email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au. Alternatively, you can use our live chat during business hours to contact our helpful support team.
5. Thousands of happy customers
Don't just take our word for it—our reviews speak for themselves. Sterling Chess is trusted by thousands of players who keep coming back for more. Great products. Great service. No hassle.
6. Classic games, too
We're all about chess—but we also carry backgammon, checkers, poker and other timeless strategy games. If you love the classics, you’ll feel right at home.
Ready to make your move?
Choose a chess set that fits your style, skill level, and space—and enjoy the Sterling Chess difference. You’ll love how it looks. You’ll love how it plays. And you’ll love buying from a team that loves the game just as much as you do.
Nineteenth century Austrian chess pieces are one of the patterns that did not survive standardisation. Viennese and Bohemian workshops were turning distinctive sets right through the period, and then the Staunton design swept the tournament world and everything else became a curiosity.
This reproduction brings the pattern back at full size. A 108mm king on a 43mm base, and a step down through the officers that is steeper than the English convention: 94mm at the queen, then straight to 76mm at the bishop. Every piece is double weighted with an iron stud set into the base.
Two light finishes are offered against the same ebonised dark side. Golden antiqued boxwood reads as an aged honey tone; natural boxwood is left bright for higher contrast. It sits within our reproduction chess pieces.
Most reproductions we carry are English or Soviet in origin, and both traditions favour a gradual step down from king to pawn. Continental European patterns often did not. This one drops 18mm between the queen and the bishop, which gives the back rank a two tier look that reads as distinctly old.
The choice of light wood then decides how it reads on the board. Golden antiqued boxwood is taken away from bright white toward an oxidised honey tone, so the set never has the crisp new appearance of a natural pairing and contrast against the ebonised dark side is moderate. Natural boxwood keeps the light pieces bright, which separates the two sides faster under club lighting.
If contrast matters more to you than period character, take the natural boxwood option here, or look at the Staunton chess pieces range for a more familiar silhouette.
Before Staunton became compulsory, every major chess playing region had its own vocabulary of shapes. Vienna was one of the strongest chess cities in Europe through the second half of the nineteenth century, and workshops there and in Bohemia turned sets with tall kings, compact officers and a pronounced difference in scale between the royal pieces and the rest.
The pattern lost out for a practical reason rather than an aesthetic one. Tournament play needed pieces a visiting player could identify instantly, and the Staunton design had been engineered for exactly that. Regional patterns retreated to home use and then largely vanished, which is why a faithful reproduction is the only realistic way to own one.
Both options share the same ebonised dark side, the same dimensions, the same carving and the same iron weighting. The only difference is the light wood, and it changes the character of the set more than the description suggests.
Golden antiqued boxwood is finished to a warm oxidised honey, closest to how a surviving nineteenth century set looks today. Contrast against the ebonised pieces is moderate and the whole set reads as period. Natural boxwood is left bright, so the two sides separate instantly and the set looks newly turned rather than aged. The golden antiqued option is marginally the heavier at 1,360g against 1,280g.
The 43mm king base puts this set on 55mm squares, which is standard tournament sizing. The compact officers help here: with the bishop on a 36mm base there is more visual space around the back rank than the king height alone would suggest.
No board ships with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the 55mm requirement directly.
The reason to own this set is that the Austrian pattern is genuinely uncommon and this reproduction does not soften it. The steep drop from the queen to the bishop is the pattern working, not a proportion error, and the iron weighted bases give a settled feel that the modest weight does not advertise. The choice between the two light woods is the real decision: golden antiqued for period character and a warmer board, natural boxwood if you want the two sides to separate instantly. Under poor club lighting the golden antiqued option is noticeably slower to read, so pick accordingly.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm, standard tournament sizing. That comes from the 43mm king base rather than the 108mm height.
Only the light pieces. Golden antiqued boxwood is an aged honey tone with moderate contrast against the ebonised dark side. Natural boxwood is left bright for high contrast. Dimensions, carving and weighting are identical, and the golden antiqued set is marginally heavier at 1,360g against 1,280g.
No. The dark pieces are ebonised boxwood, taken to a deep black finish. Genuine ebony sets are available elsewhere in our wood chess pieces range.
Double weighted, with an iron stud set into the base of each piece and covered with thick green felt.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately and no storage box ships with the set.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
108mm (4.27 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
43mm (1.71 inch) |
|
Queen height |
94mm (3.74 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
41mm (1.60 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
76mm (3.06 inch) |
|
Knight height |
69mm (2.73 inch) |
|
Rook height |
62mm (2.46 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
53mm (2.10 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
36mm (1.43 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Ebonised boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Light pieces |
Golden antiqued or natural boxwood, by option |
|
Weighting |
Double weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,360g in golden antiqued, 1,280g in natural boxwood |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in the finish option you select
2 spare queens, one per colour
Chess board not included
Storage box not included
All products sold by Sterling Chess are backed by a 12 month limited manufacturer warranty. This covers manufacturing defects and cracking, and ensures every product is 100% genuine. If you need assistance, our team is only a call or email away.
Is shipping really free?
Yes — we offer free standard shipping on all orders across Australia, with no minimum spend. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay.
Are there any exceptions to free shipping?
No exceptions. Every order ships free, regardless of size, weight, or order value.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days, with delivery times depending on your location. You'll receive tracking details by email once your order is on its way.
Do you ship to all areas of Australia?
Yes, we deliver Australia-wide, including regional and remote areas — all at no shipping cost to you.
Can I track my order?
Absolutely. As soon as your order ships, we'll email you a tracking number so you can follow its journey to your door.
What if I need my order quickly?
Get in touch before ordering and we'll do our best to help. Standard shipping is free, and we'll advise on the fastest available option for your area. To contact us, simply email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au, call (03) 7037 0931 or open the live chat.
Changed your mind? You can return unused, unopened items within 100 days of your order date, provided they’re in original packaging and resaleable condition. Sterling Chess will cover the cost of shipping return items under our 100-day free returns policy.
All Sterling Chess products are backed by Australian Consumer Law and include a minimum 12-month Australian warranty. If there’s an issue with your product, our team is here to help and will work to make it right.
Click here to view our full returns policy.
If you're shopping for a new chess set, you're in the right place—and here's why.
1. We know chess inside and out
At Sterling Chess, we're not just another online store. We’re chess lovers, players, collectors, and game night fanatics.
That means we care about quality, balance, and feel—and we only stock sets we’d use ourselves. From tournament-grade boards to handcrafted wooden pieces, we’ve got what real players want.
2. Unmatched variety for every player
Whether you're just learning or a lifelong grandmaster, we have something for you.
Looking for a folding set for travel? A stunning showpiece for your home? A kid-friendly set for your budding chess champion? We’ve got it all—and more.
3. Fast and FREE shipping on all orders
Shipping is FREE on all Sterling Chess orders.
We ship quickly from local and international warehouses, so you’re not waiting weeks to get your game on.
Most orders are packed and sent within 24–48 hours. Plus, you’ll get tracking updates every step of the way.
4. Customer support that actually helps
Have a question? Need help choosing a set? Our friendly team is ready to help—no scripts, no bots, just real people who care about your experience.
You can call our team anytime between business hours on (03) 7037 0931 or email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au. Alternatively, you can use our live chat during business hours to contact our helpful support team.
5. Thousands of happy customers
Don't just take our word for it—our reviews speak for themselves. Sterling Chess is trusted by thousands of players who keep coming back for more. Great products. Great service. No hassle.
6. Classic games, too
We're all about chess—but we also carry backgammon, checkers, poker and other timeless strategy games. If you love the classics, you’ll feel right at home.
Ready to make your move?
Choose a chess set that fits your style, skill level, and space—and enjoy the Sterling Chess difference. You’ll love how it looks. You’ll love how it plays. And you’ll love buying from a team that loves the game just as much as you do.
