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Four officers, one base diameter. On this set the queen, bishop, knight and rook all stand on 43mm, which means the entire back rank either side of the king shares a single footprint. It is the detail that separates a faithful 1849 reproduction from a modern set wearing the name.
The other giveaway is the queen. At 89mm against a 115mm king she is 26mm shorter, a gap far wider than any modern set allows. Early Staunton design put real distance between the king and everything else, and later makers steadily closed it.
Genuine ebony and antiqued boxwood, triple weighted to 1,980g across 34 pieces. It sits within our reproduction chess pieces.
We carry two reproductions of the 1849 Staunton pattern and they are genuinely different sets, so it is worth being precise about which is which. Both share a 115mm king, genuine ebony and antiqued boxwood.
This one is the tournament proportioned version: a 48mm king base, matched 43mm officers, an 89mm queen, a 50mm pawn, and 1,980g of triple weighting. The collector edition in our reproduction chess pieces is broader and heavier throughout, with a 52mm king base, 48mm rooks, a 97mm queen, a 60mm pawn and 2,220g.
Practically, this set is the one you play with and the collector edition is the one you display. Both need 60mm squares.
The 1849 design was engineered for a lathe. Every piece except the knight is a profile spun against a metal guide, and the fewer distinct base diameters a workshop has to set up, the faster and more consistent the output. Giving the queen, bishop, knight and rook a single 43mm foot was a manufacturing decision before it was an aesthetic one.
What it produces on the board is an unusually even back rank, with only the king stepping outside the pattern on its 48mm base. Later makers introduced graded bases to give the pieces more individual character, which looks better in a photograph and moves further from the source.
The dark pieces are genuine ebony heartwood, not ebonised timber. It is dense, close grained and near uniform in colour, and it holds a carved edge cleanly, which matters on the knight where the mane and muzzle carry the detail.
The light side is antiqued boxwood, oxidised to a mellow tone rather than left bright. Against ebony the contrast is clear but warm, and it matches how surviving nineteenth century sets look today rather than how they looked new. Triple weighting brings the total to 1,980g, around 58g a piece.
The 48mm king base puts this set on 60mm squares. The matched 43mm officers help: because six of the eight back rank pieces share one footprint, the rank fills evenly and there is no single piece crowding its neighbours the way a wide rook would.
No board is included. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the 60mm requirement directly, and the wider Staunton chess pieces range follows the same convention.
Of the two 1849 reproductions we carry, this is the one I would actually play with. The matched 43mm officer bases are correct to the source, the triple weighting at 1,980g is substantial without being unwieldy, and the 89mm queen against a 115mm king is the proportion the original had rather than the one modern eyes expect. The caveats: it needs 60mm squares like its bigger sibling, and the low queen looks wrong to anyone accustomed to a modern set until they have played a few games with it. Worth the adjustment.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 60mm. That comes from the 48mm king base rather than the 115mm height. A standard 55mm tournament board will crowd them.
This is the tournament proportioned version: 48mm king base, matched 43mm officers, 89mm queen, 1,980g. The collector edition is broader and heavier throughout, with a 52mm king base, 97mm queen and 2,220g. Both use genuine ebony and antiqued boxwood.
A 26mm gap is what the original 1849 pattern had. Later makers narrowed it steadily, so modern sets put the queen much closer to the king. This reproduction keeps the original spacing.
Yes, the dark pieces are genuine ebony heartwood (Diospyros ebenum) rather than ebonised or dyed timber.
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 |
115mm (4.52 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
48mm (1.88 inch) |
|
Queen height |
89mm (3.50 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
77mm (3.03 inch) |
|
Knight height |
71mm (2.79 inch) |
|
Rook height |
63mm (2.48 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
43mm (1.69 inch), queen, bishop, knight and rook |
|
Pawn height |
50mm (1.96 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
34mm (1.33 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Genuine ebony (Diospyros ebenum) |
|
Light pieces |
Antiqued boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Weighting |
Triple weighted, thick green felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,980g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
60mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in genuine ebony and antiqued boxwood
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.
Four officers, one base diameter. On this set the queen, bishop, knight and rook all stand on 43mm, which means the entire back rank either side of the king shares a single footprint. It is the detail that separates a faithful 1849 reproduction from a modern set wearing the name.
The other giveaway is the queen. At 89mm against a 115mm king she is 26mm shorter, a gap far wider than any modern set allows. Early Staunton design put real distance between the king and everything else, and later makers steadily closed it.
Genuine ebony and antiqued boxwood, triple weighted to 1,980g across 34 pieces. It sits within our reproduction chess pieces.
We carry two reproductions of the 1849 Staunton pattern and they are genuinely different sets, so it is worth being precise about which is which. Both share a 115mm king, genuine ebony and antiqued boxwood.
This one is the tournament proportioned version: a 48mm king base, matched 43mm officers, an 89mm queen, a 50mm pawn, and 1,980g of triple weighting. The collector edition in our reproduction chess pieces is broader and heavier throughout, with a 52mm king base, 48mm rooks, a 97mm queen, a 60mm pawn and 2,220g.
Practically, this set is the one you play with and the collector edition is the one you display. Both need 60mm squares.
The 1849 design was engineered for a lathe. Every piece except the knight is a profile spun against a metal guide, and the fewer distinct base diameters a workshop has to set up, the faster and more consistent the output. Giving the queen, bishop, knight and rook a single 43mm foot was a manufacturing decision before it was an aesthetic one.
What it produces on the board is an unusually even back rank, with only the king stepping outside the pattern on its 48mm base. Later makers introduced graded bases to give the pieces more individual character, which looks better in a photograph and moves further from the source.
The dark pieces are genuine ebony heartwood, not ebonised timber. It is dense, close grained and near uniform in colour, and it holds a carved edge cleanly, which matters on the knight where the mane and muzzle carry the detail.
The light side is antiqued boxwood, oxidised to a mellow tone rather than left bright. Against ebony the contrast is clear but warm, and it matches how surviving nineteenth century sets look today rather than how they looked new. Triple weighting brings the total to 1,980g, around 58g a piece.
The 48mm king base puts this set on 60mm squares. The matched 43mm officers help: because six of the eight back rank pieces share one footprint, the rank fills evenly and there is no single piece crowding its neighbours the way a wide rook would.
No board is included. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the 60mm requirement directly, and the wider Staunton chess pieces range follows the same convention.
Of the two 1849 reproductions we carry, this is the one I would actually play with. The matched 43mm officer bases are correct to the source, the triple weighting at 1,980g is substantial without being unwieldy, and the 89mm queen against a 115mm king is the proportion the original had rather than the one modern eyes expect. The caveats: it needs 60mm squares like its bigger sibling, and the low queen looks wrong to anyone accustomed to a modern set until they have played a few games with it. Worth the adjustment.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 60mm. That comes from the 48mm king base rather than the 115mm height. A standard 55mm tournament board will crowd them.
This is the tournament proportioned version: 48mm king base, matched 43mm officers, 89mm queen, 1,980g. The collector edition is broader and heavier throughout, with a 52mm king base, 97mm queen and 2,220g. Both use genuine ebony and antiqued boxwood.
A 26mm gap is what the original 1849 pattern had. Later makers narrowed it steadily, so modern sets put the queen much closer to the king. This reproduction keeps the original spacing.
Yes, the dark pieces are genuine ebony heartwood (Diospyros ebenum) rather than ebonised or dyed timber.
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 |
115mm (4.52 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
48mm (1.88 inch) |
|
Queen height |
89mm (3.50 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
77mm (3.03 inch) |
|
Knight height |
71mm (2.79 inch) |
|
Rook height |
63mm (2.48 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
43mm (1.69 inch), queen, bishop, knight and rook |
|
Pawn height |
50mm (1.96 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
34mm (1.33 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Genuine ebony (Diospyros ebenum) |
|
Light pieces |
Antiqued boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Weighting |
Triple weighted, thick green felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,980g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
60mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in genuine ebony and antiqued boxwood
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.
