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These chessmen reproduce the tournament sets Lardy made in France, and the listing comes two ways. What separates them is the stain on the dark army and nothing else.
The Lardy pattern was popular through the 1960s for its sturdy design, and these conform to the Staunton proportions, so nothing standing on the board will be unfamiliar.
There are no sharp or protruding edges anywhere on these pieces. That is a comfort in the hand and a mercy in a bag, because there is nothing standing out to be knocked off.
The king measures 98mm, the construction is durable, and it was built for the rigours of practical play. Four queens are supplied, so a pawn reaching the eighth rank is answered straight away.
It is shelved with our reproduction chess pieces.
The Lardy is a plain working pattern, and the plainness is the point of it. It conforms to the Staunton proportions, so the king, the queen, the bishop and the rook all stand exactly where a player's hand expects to find them.
The edges are the detail to notice. Nothing on these chessmen comes to a point or sticks out, so a piece lifts out of a bag without catching its neighbour and a knock does not take a corner off.
That is also part of why it lasted. The design was sturdy, and that sturdiness is what made it popular in the first place. It was drawn for daily play and not for a shelf.
All 34 pieces together weigh 1,100 grams. That is enough behind a man for it to sit where it is put through a fast game, and light enough that the set is no trouble to carry to a club night.
These pieces suit boards with squares of 50mm to 55mm. The foot under this king is a modest one, so the back rank has bare board around it right across that window.
Underneath the finish these are the same chessmen. Every dimension agrees, the weight agrees and the count agrees, so the only thing in play here is the colour of the dark army.
The antiqued option carries an antique stain on its dark army, and the walnut stained option carries a walnut stain. Those are the two names, and the stain is the whole of the difference between them.
Which of the two to take is a question for the eye. Both stains are pictured on this listing, so look at the pair of them and take the dark army you would rather sit behind.
Boxwood is the light side on both options. Only the dark army carries the stain, so half of what stands on the board is identical whichever way you go.
Looking after them is the same simple job whichever you choose. Keep the set out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, which is what makes hardwood check. Dust with a dry soft cloth, and leave oil, polish and solvents alone.
I would hand this one to somebody who wants a single set of chessmen and no fuss about it. It is a standard tournament set for daily play and it does that job without asking anything of you.
The edges are why I rate it. There is nothing on these pieces to catch or to snap, so a set that lives in a bag between club nights comes out looking the same in ten years.
The four queens earn their place. A pawn going through is answered straight away, and nobody has to stand an upturned rook on the board to fill in for the missing piece.
What it is not is a showpiece. Both armies are boxwood and the dark side is stained, so anyone who wants figured hardwood and more ornament than this should look at our luxury chess pieces.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
The tournament chessmen made by the French manufacturer Lardy, which players took to in the 1960s for their sturdy design. This set reproduces them precisely.
Only the finish on the dark side. One army carries an antique stain and the other a walnut stain, with boxwood making the pale side of each.
Squares of 50mm to 55mm. The king here is not a broad piece, so either figure in that range gives the men space to stand.
1,100 grams once every piece is out. That is enough to hold a man steady through a quick game, and little enough to carry the set about without thinking.
34 chess pieces, including a spare queen of each colour. What is in the box is listed in full below.
No, neither one is included. This listing is the chessmen on their own, so a board and a box are both separate purchases. Match whatever board you buy to the square window in the specifications below.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
98mm high (3.9 inch), 40mm base |
|
Queen |
86mm high (3.4 inch), 37mm base |
|
Bishop |
76mm high (3.0 inch), 34mm base |
|
Knight |
67mm high (2.6 inch), 34mm base |
|
Rook |
55mm high (2.2 inch), 34mm base |
|
Pawn |
47mm high (1.9 inch), 30mm base |
|
Antiqued option |
Antiqued boxwood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Walnut Stained option |
Walnut stained boxwood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
King height, both finishes |
98mm |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm (1.97 inch to 2.16 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
1,100 grams (2.4 lbs) |
|
Piece count |
34, including four queens |
|
Chess board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces in the finish you select, including a spare queen of each 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.
These chessmen reproduce the tournament sets Lardy made in France, and the listing comes two ways. What separates them is the stain on the dark army and nothing else.
The Lardy pattern was popular through the 1960s for its sturdy design, and these conform to the Staunton proportions, so nothing standing on the board will be unfamiliar.
There are no sharp or protruding edges anywhere on these pieces. That is a comfort in the hand and a mercy in a bag, because there is nothing standing out to be knocked off.
The king measures 98mm, the construction is durable, and it was built for the rigours of practical play. Four queens are supplied, so a pawn reaching the eighth rank is answered straight away.
It is shelved with our reproduction chess pieces.
The Lardy is a plain working pattern, and the plainness is the point of it. It conforms to the Staunton proportions, so the king, the queen, the bishop and the rook all stand exactly where a player's hand expects to find them.
The edges are the detail to notice. Nothing on these chessmen comes to a point or sticks out, so a piece lifts out of a bag without catching its neighbour and a knock does not take a corner off.
That is also part of why it lasted. The design was sturdy, and that sturdiness is what made it popular in the first place. It was drawn for daily play and not for a shelf.
All 34 pieces together weigh 1,100 grams. That is enough behind a man for it to sit where it is put through a fast game, and light enough that the set is no trouble to carry to a club night.
These pieces suit boards with squares of 50mm to 55mm. The foot under this king is a modest one, so the back rank has bare board around it right across that window.
Underneath the finish these are the same chessmen. Every dimension agrees, the weight agrees and the count agrees, so the only thing in play here is the colour of the dark army.
The antiqued option carries an antique stain on its dark army, and the walnut stained option carries a walnut stain. Those are the two names, and the stain is the whole of the difference between them.
Which of the two to take is a question for the eye. Both stains are pictured on this listing, so look at the pair of them and take the dark army you would rather sit behind.
Boxwood is the light side on both options. Only the dark army carries the stain, so half of what stands on the board is identical whichever way you go.
Looking after them is the same simple job whichever you choose. Keep the set out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, which is what makes hardwood check. Dust with a dry soft cloth, and leave oil, polish and solvents alone.
I would hand this one to somebody who wants a single set of chessmen and no fuss about it. It is a standard tournament set for daily play and it does that job without asking anything of you.
The edges are why I rate it. There is nothing on these pieces to catch or to snap, so a set that lives in a bag between club nights comes out looking the same in ten years.
The four queens earn their place. A pawn going through is answered straight away, and nobody has to stand an upturned rook on the board to fill in for the missing piece.
What it is not is a showpiece. Both armies are boxwood and the dark side is stained, so anyone who wants figured hardwood and more ornament than this should look at our luxury chess pieces.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
The tournament chessmen made by the French manufacturer Lardy, which players took to in the 1960s for their sturdy design. This set reproduces them precisely.
Only the finish on the dark side. One army carries an antique stain and the other a walnut stain, with boxwood making the pale side of each.
Squares of 50mm to 55mm. The king here is not a broad piece, so either figure in that range gives the men space to stand.
1,100 grams once every piece is out. That is enough to hold a man steady through a quick game, and little enough to carry the set about without thinking.
34 chess pieces, including a spare queen of each colour. What is in the box is listed in full below.
No, neither one is included. This listing is the chessmen on their own, so a board and a box are both separate purchases. Match whatever board you buy to the square window in the specifications below.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
98mm high (3.9 inch), 40mm base |
|
Queen |
86mm high (3.4 inch), 37mm base |
|
Bishop |
76mm high (3.0 inch), 34mm base |
|
Knight |
67mm high (2.6 inch), 34mm base |
|
Rook |
55mm high (2.2 inch), 34mm base |
|
Pawn |
47mm high (1.9 inch), 30mm base |
|
Antiqued option |
Antiqued boxwood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Walnut Stained option |
Walnut stained boxwood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
King height, both finishes |
98mm |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm (1.97 inch to 2.16 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
1,100 grams (2.4 lbs) |
|
Piece count |
34, including four queens |
|
Chess board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces in the finish you select, including a spare queen of each 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.
