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Some sets announce themselves through carving. The Lotus Series does the opposite. These are minimalist chess pieces built from clean turned profiles, with the decorative detail stripped out until only the silhouette is left. If you have worked through our chess pieces collection looking for something that is not another Staunton, this is the departure.
Size is the first thing you notice. The king stands 156mm, or 6.14 inches, which is a long way above the 95mm to 110mm that most tournament sets settle on. The pipe shaped profile keeps everything slim, so the king base measures only 37mm and the full set weighs around 740g.
Two timbers are offered here. Ebony (Diospyros ebenum) is dense and close grained, giving a near black surface with very little figure showing. Bud rosewood (Dalbergia maritima) carries warmer red and brown movement through the grain. Both are turned against natural boxwood on the light side.
Most wooden sets in this category are Staunton derivatives. The proportions shift, the knight carving shifts, but the vocabulary is shared. The Lotus Series is not part of that conversation. It is turned rather than carved, and its identity comes from the profile alone.
Set against the rest of our wood chess pieces, the obvious difference is height. A 156mm king sits above almost everything made for tournament play and close to double an entry level set. That buys presence on a board and on a shelf, and it costs you portability.
The timbers are the other separator. Genuine ebony and bud rosewood are both slow to source and hard on tooling, which is why they appear more often on display sets than club sets. Running them against natural boxwood keeps the contrast high without reaching for dye.
The maker specifies 51mm (2 inch) squares for this set, and that figure comes from the base rather than the height. At 37mm across, the king covers roughly 72 percent of a 51mm square, which is the ratio a comfortable playing set wants.
Eight 51mm squares give a 408mm playing area, so a board of about 50cm overall is the target. If you want more breathing room around pieces this tall, moving up to 55mm squares is sensible and still keeps the bases well proportioned. Do not go below 51mm. At this height the set looks crowded and a knocked piece takes its neighbours with it.
The dark side is either ebony or bud rosewood, and the two behave differently in the hand and under light. Ebony reads as a solid dark mass with almost no visible grain. Bud rosewood is more open, and its red through brown movement changes noticeably as you turn a piece.
Both are finished with several layers of buff polish rather than a thick lacquer, so the surface keeps some of the timber's own texture instead of sitting sealed under a hard coat. Every base carries a thick green felt pad, which lets the pieces slide cleanly and keeps the playing surface unmarked.
These pieces are sold on their own, so the board is a separate decision. Start at 51mm squares and work up to 55mm, then let the timber choice guide the rest. Ebony wants a lighter board so the dark side does not disappear into it, while bud rosewood is forgiving and reads well against most mid tone surfaces.
Our chess boards collection covers the range, and square size is the number to check first. If you are buying for display rather than play, the taller king rewards a board with a generous border, which gives the set room to read as an object in its own right.
A 156mm king in genuine ebony or bud rosewood is an unusual combination. Height like this is normally the territory of decorative reproductions in cheaper timber, and turned minimalism at this scale is rarer still.
The caveat is weight. At roughly 740g across 34 chessmen the pieces average a little over 20g each, which is unweighted by any tournament standard, and on a piece this tall that reads as a light, top heavy balance. We would put these in front of a collector or someone building a room around a board, not a club player who wants a double weighted set to move under a clock.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Buyers who want a set that holds a room. The 156mm king and the stripped back turning make these read as a display object first and a playing set second. A club player after tournament weighting and standard Staunton proportions will be happier with something shorter and heavier.
The maker recommends 51mm (2 inch) squares, which suits the 37mm king base. That works out to a playing area of roughly 408mm and a board around 50cm overall. Anything up to 55mm squares also works and gives pieces of this height a little more room to breathe.
Ebony (Diospyros ebenum) is denser and close grained, so it looks almost uniformly black with very little figure. Bud rosewood (Dalbergia maritima) shows warmer red and brown grain movement. Both options share the same dimensions, the same 34 piece count and the same natural boxwood light side.
No. This is a pieces only listing. Neither a chess board nor a storage box is included, so plan for both separately. Sizing the board is the main task, and the answer is 51mm squares as a starting point and 55mm as the upper limit.
This is the tall end of it. The rest of our minimalist chess pieces run to more conventional king heights, which makes them easier to board and easier to store. Choose the Lotus Series when presence matters more than practicality.
Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heating vents, because turned hardwood can check if it dries out quickly. A dry soft cloth is all the cleaning they need. Avoid household polish and oils, which can lift the buff finish over time.
Spec |
Detail |
King height |
156 mm (6.14 in) |
King base diameter |
37 mm (1.45 in) |
Queen height |
132 mm (5.20 in), 37 mm base |
Bishop height |
125 mm (4.9 in), 35 mm base |
Knight height |
104 mm (4.10 in), 35 mm base |
Rook height |
96 mm (3.78 in), 35 mm base |
Pawn height |
62 mm (2.4 in), 27 mm base |
Recommended square size |
51 mm (2 in), up to 55 mm |
Suggested board size |
Approximately 50 cm overall |
Pieces supplied |
34 chessmen |
Set weight |
740 g approximately |
Dark timber |
Ebony (Diospyros ebenum) or Bud Rosewood (Dalbergia maritima) |
Light timber |
Natural boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
Finish |
Several layers of buff polish |
Base pads |
Thick green felt |
Series |
Lotus Series, pipe shaped |
Chess board |
Not included |
Storage box |
Not included |
34 chessmen in your chosen dark timber and natural boxwood
32 playing pieces plus 2 extra 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.
Some sets announce themselves through carving. The Lotus Series does the opposite. These are minimalist chess pieces built from clean turned profiles, with the decorative detail stripped out until only the silhouette is left. If you have worked through our chess pieces collection looking for something that is not another Staunton, this is the departure.
Size is the first thing you notice. The king stands 156mm, or 6.14 inches, which is a long way above the 95mm to 110mm that most tournament sets settle on. The pipe shaped profile keeps everything slim, so the king base measures only 37mm and the full set weighs around 740g.
Two timbers are offered here. Ebony (Diospyros ebenum) is dense and close grained, giving a near black surface with very little figure showing. Bud rosewood (Dalbergia maritima) carries warmer red and brown movement through the grain. Both are turned against natural boxwood on the light side.
Most wooden sets in this category are Staunton derivatives. The proportions shift, the knight carving shifts, but the vocabulary is shared. The Lotus Series is not part of that conversation. It is turned rather than carved, and its identity comes from the profile alone.
Set against the rest of our wood chess pieces, the obvious difference is height. A 156mm king sits above almost everything made for tournament play and close to double an entry level set. That buys presence on a board and on a shelf, and it costs you portability.
The timbers are the other separator. Genuine ebony and bud rosewood are both slow to source and hard on tooling, which is why they appear more often on display sets than club sets. Running them against natural boxwood keeps the contrast high without reaching for dye.
The maker specifies 51mm (2 inch) squares for this set, and that figure comes from the base rather than the height. At 37mm across, the king covers roughly 72 percent of a 51mm square, which is the ratio a comfortable playing set wants.
Eight 51mm squares give a 408mm playing area, so a board of about 50cm overall is the target. If you want more breathing room around pieces this tall, moving up to 55mm squares is sensible and still keeps the bases well proportioned. Do not go below 51mm. At this height the set looks crowded and a knocked piece takes its neighbours with it.
The dark side is either ebony or bud rosewood, and the two behave differently in the hand and under light. Ebony reads as a solid dark mass with almost no visible grain. Bud rosewood is more open, and its red through brown movement changes noticeably as you turn a piece.
Both are finished with several layers of buff polish rather than a thick lacquer, so the surface keeps some of the timber's own texture instead of sitting sealed under a hard coat. Every base carries a thick green felt pad, which lets the pieces slide cleanly and keeps the playing surface unmarked.
These pieces are sold on their own, so the board is a separate decision. Start at 51mm squares and work up to 55mm, then let the timber choice guide the rest. Ebony wants a lighter board so the dark side does not disappear into it, while bud rosewood is forgiving and reads well against most mid tone surfaces.
Our chess boards collection covers the range, and square size is the number to check first. If you are buying for display rather than play, the taller king rewards a board with a generous border, which gives the set room to read as an object in its own right.
A 156mm king in genuine ebony or bud rosewood is an unusual combination. Height like this is normally the territory of decorative reproductions in cheaper timber, and turned minimalism at this scale is rarer still.
The caveat is weight. At roughly 740g across 34 chessmen the pieces average a little over 20g each, which is unweighted by any tournament standard, and on a piece this tall that reads as a light, top heavy balance. We would put these in front of a collector or someone building a room around a board, not a club player who wants a double weighted set to move under a clock.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Buyers who want a set that holds a room. The 156mm king and the stripped back turning make these read as a display object first and a playing set second. A club player after tournament weighting and standard Staunton proportions will be happier with something shorter and heavier.
The maker recommends 51mm (2 inch) squares, which suits the 37mm king base. That works out to a playing area of roughly 408mm and a board around 50cm overall. Anything up to 55mm squares also works and gives pieces of this height a little more room to breathe.
Ebony (Diospyros ebenum) is denser and close grained, so it looks almost uniformly black with very little figure. Bud rosewood (Dalbergia maritima) shows warmer red and brown grain movement. Both options share the same dimensions, the same 34 piece count and the same natural boxwood light side.
No. This is a pieces only listing. Neither a chess board nor a storage box is included, so plan for both separately. Sizing the board is the main task, and the answer is 51mm squares as a starting point and 55mm as the upper limit.
This is the tall end of it. The rest of our minimalist chess pieces run to more conventional king heights, which makes them easier to board and easier to store. Choose the Lotus Series when presence matters more than practicality.
Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heating vents, because turned hardwood can check if it dries out quickly. A dry soft cloth is all the cleaning they need. Avoid household polish and oils, which can lift the buff finish over time.
Spec |
Detail |
King height |
156 mm (6.14 in) |
King base diameter |
37 mm (1.45 in) |
Queen height |
132 mm (5.20 in), 37 mm base |
Bishop height |
125 mm (4.9 in), 35 mm base |
Knight height |
104 mm (4.10 in), 35 mm base |
Rook height |
96 mm (3.78 in), 35 mm base |
Pawn height |
62 mm (2.4 in), 27 mm base |
Recommended square size |
51 mm (2 in), up to 55 mm |
Suggested board size |
Approximately 50 cm overall |
Pieces supplied |
34 chessmen |
Set weight |
740 g approximately |
Dark timber |
Ebony (Diospyros ebenum) or Bud Rosewood (Dalbergia maritima) |
Light timber |
Natural boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
Finish |
Several layers of buff polish |
Base pads |
Thick green felt |
Series |
Lotus Series, pipe shaped |
Chess board |
Not included |
Storage box |
Not included |
34 chessmen in your chosen dark timber and natural boxwood
32 playing pieces plus 2 extra 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.
