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The Lessing Series is the seventeenth and last of the recognised Staunton variants, made between 1927 and 1937. This set reproduces the final design Jaques of London launched.
That places it at the end of a long line, and the design shows it. Nothing on these pieces is thin or fretted, and every shape is drawn for use.
The bishop, knight and rook are built on a single footprint, so the stretch of rank on either side of the royals reads as one continuous band.
Ebony makes the dark army on both options. What you are choosing is the finish: natural ebony against plain boxwood, or dyed ebony against antiqued boxwood.
The king is at the upper end of club playing sizes, and it sits with our staunton chess pieces.
The Staunton pattern ran through seventeen recognised variants, and the Lessing is the last of them. A design at the end of that line has decades of use behind it, and it shows in what is missing.
There are no sharp edges on any piece and no delicate carving anywhere. The bishop's mitre is a clean cut instead of a fretted one, the rook's crenellation is broad, and the knight carries its character in the modelling of the head.
Every one of those is a decision that leaves nothing thin to break, which is why the pattern still looks right after years on a table.
The feet are worth reading as a group. King and queen take the two widest, then the bishop, knight and rook share one, and the pawn alone is narrower again. Three piece types on a single footprint is why the army reads as sturdy.
These pieces suit boards with squares of 55mm. That foot is a wide one, so the set fills the square it is given and the opening position looks occupied rather than airy.
Both options are the same chessmen. Every height and every base agrees, both are cut for the same square and both arrive as 34 pieces. Nothing you decide here reaches the board.
The natural option is ebony left completely untreated and undyed, facing plain boxwood. It is the honest version: the timber arrives as the timber is, and the pale side starts bright and will mellow at its own pace.
The antiqued option is dyed ebony under a semi gloss finish, and its pale side carries an antiqued stain. That takes the light army away from the bright cream of new timber, towards the tone of chessmen used for decades.
So the question is whether you want the set to look its age from the first game or to get there on its own. Either way a grain pattern is visible across the ebony at close range.
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.
What you are buying is the end of an argument. Seventeen Staunton variants, and the last of them keeps nothing that snaps, groups the foot under the three pieces you handle most, and carries its weight the way the original did.
All of it points one way. This is a set drawn to be used, and one that will still be worth setting out in twenty years.
Settle the board before anything else. A foot this wide leaves no slack at 55mm, so put a ruler across your own squares before you order.
If you would rather the ornament were the point, our luxury chess pieces are the range to look across instead.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
55mm squares. The king carries the broadest foot in the army, so there is no slack in the fit. Measure the board you own before ordering rather than after.
The seventeenth and last recognised variant of the Staunton design, made between 1927 and 1937, and the final Staunton pattern Jaques of London launched. This is a reproduction of it.
Only the finish. Natural is undyed ebony against plain boxwood; antiqued is dyed ebony in semi gloss against boxwood lacquered in an antiqued stain. The shapes, the scale and the square are the same on both.
Yes, at the base, in the way the original design was weighted. The natural option comes to 1,600 grams for the 34 pieces and the antiqued option to 1,500 grams.
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 recommended square size in the specifications below.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
98mm high (3.9 inch), 45mm base |
|
Queen |
81mm high (3.2 inch), 41mm base |
|
Bishop |
75mm high (3.0 inch), 37mm base |
|
Knight |
68mm high (2.7 inch), 37mm base |
|
Rook |
56mm high (2.2 inch), 37mm base |
|
Pawn |
51mm high (2.0 inch), 30mm base |
|
Natural option |
Ebony wood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Antiqued option |
Dyed ebony wood dark pieces, antiqued lacquered boxwood light pieces |
|
King height, both finishes |
98mm |
|
Weighting |
Weighted at the base |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm (2.16 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
1,600 grams (3.5 lbs) on the Natural option, 1,500 grams (3.3 lbs) on the Antiqued option |
|
Piece count |
34 |
|
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.
The Lessing Series is the seventeenth and last of the recognised Staunton variants, made between 1927 and 1937. This set reproduces the final design Jaques of London launched.
That places it at the end of a long line, and the design shows it. Nothing on these pieces is thin or fretted, and every shape is drawn for use.
The bishop, knight and rook are built on a single footprint, so the stretch of rank on either side of the royals reads as one continuous band.
Ebony makes the dark army on both options. What you are choosing is the finish: natural ebony against plain boxwood, or dyed ebony against antiqued boxwood.
The king is at the upper end of club playing sizes, and it sits with our staunton chess pieces.
The Staunton pattern ran through seventeen recognised variants, and the Lessing is the last of them. A design at the end of that line has decades of use behind it, and it shows in what is missing.
There are no sharp edges on any piece and no delicate carving anywhere. The bishop's mitre is a clean cut instead of a fretted one, the rook's crenellation is broad, and the knight carries its character in the modelling of the head.
Every one of those is a decision that leaves nothing thin to break, which is why the pattern still looks right after years on a table.
The feet are worth reading as a group. King and queen take the two widest, then the bishop, knight and rook share one, and the pawn alone is narrower again. Three piece types on a single footprint is why the army reads as sturdy.
These pieces suit boards with squares of 55mm. That foot is a wide one, so the set fills the square it is given and the opening position looks occupied rather than airy.
Both options are the same chessmen. Every height and every base agrees, both are cut for the same square and both arrive as 34 pieces. Nothing you decide here reaches the board.
The natural option is ebony left completely untreated and undyed, facing plain boxwood. It is the honest version: the timber arrives as the timber is, and the pale side starts bright and will mellow at its own pace.
The antiqued option is dyed ebony under a semi gloss finish, and its pale side carries an antiqued stain. That takes the light army away from the bright cream of new timber, towards the tone of chessmen used for decades.
So the question is whether you want the set to look its age from the first game or to get there on its own. Either way a grain pattern is visible across the ebony at close range.
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.
What you are buying is the end of an argument. Seventeen Staunton variants, and the last of them keeps nothing that snaps, groups the foot under the three pieces you handle most, and carries its weight the way the original did.
All of it points one way. This is a set drawn to be used, and one that will still be worth setting out in twenty years.
Settle the board before anything else. A foot this wide leaves no slack at 55mm, so put a ruler across your own squares before you order.
If you would rather the ornament were the point, our luxury chess pieces are the range to look across instead.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
55mm squares. The king carries the broadest foot in the army, so there is no slack in the fit. Measure the board you own before ordering rather than after.
The seventeenth and last recognised variant of the Staunton design, made between 1927 and 1937, and the final Staunton pattern Jaques of London launched. This is a reproduction of it.
Only the finish. Natural is undyed ebony against plain boxwood; antiqued is dyed ebony in semi gloss against boxwood lacquered in an antiqued stain. The shapes, the scale and the square are the same on both.
Yes, at the base, in the way the original design was weighted. The natural option comes to 1,600 grams for the 34 pieces and the antiqued option to 1,500 grams.
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 recommended square size in the specifications below.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
98mm high (3.9 inch), 45mm base |
|
Queen |
81mm high (3.2 inch), 41mm base |
|
Bishop |
75mm high (3.0 inch), 37mm base |
|
Knight |
68mm high (2.7 inch), 37mm base |
|
Rook |
56mm high (2.2 inch), 37mm base |
|
Pawn |
51mm high (2.0 inch), 30mm base |
|
Natural option |
Ebony wood dark pieces, boxwood light pieces |
|
Antiqued option |
Dyed ebony wood dark pieces, antiqued lacquered boxwood light pieces |
|
King height, both finishes |
98mm |
|
Weighting |
Weighted at the base |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm (2.16 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
1,600 grams (3.5 lbs) on the Natural option, 1,500 grams (3.3 lbs) on the Antiqued option |
|
Piece count |
34 |
|
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.
