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The seventh Chess Olympiad ran in Stockholm from 31 July to 14 August 1937. The equipment was not made for the event: the organisers used a Swedish club set already in circulation since 1931, most likely designed by Gustaf Nyholm, who had been Sweden's strongest player through the first decades of the century.
You can see the club origins in the proportions. The queen reaches 87mm against a 96mm king, only nine millimetres behind, while the bishop drops to 73mm and the pawn all the way to 43mm. It is a set where the royal pair dominates and the front rank stays well out of the way.
Sheesham against boxwood, iron weighted to 1,138g. It sits in our reproduction chess pieces.
Most tournament reproductions we carry are of sets commissioned for the event they are named after. This one is different: it reproduces an ordinary Swedish club set from 1931 that happened to be good enough that the Olympiad organisers saw no reason to commission anything better.
That shows in the design. There is no ornament anywhere, the turning is economical, and the only piece with hand work in it is the knight. What it does have is a very clear reading hierarchy, with a near matched royal pair at the top and a low front rank that never obscures the board.
It is also a light set at 1,138g. Anyone wanting more mass in a reproduction of similar height should compare against the heavier options in the reproduction chess pieces.
The 1937 Olympiad was an open team tournament with an unofficial women's event alongside it, organised by FIDE and held over two weeks in Stockholm. The United States took the gold medal, with a match against Sweden decided in a game between Isaac Kashdan and Gosta Stoltz that Stoltz was winning until he lost control in time trouble.
The pieces on that board were a club set that had been in use since 1931. Gustaf Nyholm is credited with the design, one of a pair he produced. Reproducing a working club set rather than a showpiece is unusual, and it is why this pattern is so plain: it was made to be used every week, not admired once.
The nine millimetre gap between the 96mm king and the 87mm queen is small by modern standards, where fifteen to twenty is typical. Below them the drop is steep: the bishop is 73mm, fourteen millimetres behind the queen, and the knight 63mm.
The pawn is where it becomes obvious. At 43mm it is under half the king's height, so a locked pawn chain sits well below the officers behind it and never blocks the view across the board. For a tournament set assessed on how quickly a player can read a position, that ratio does more work than any amount of carving.
The 41mm king base puts this set on 55mm squares, standard tournament sizing. The officers sit on 36mm to 37mm and the pawn on 31mm, so the board stays open even with the full back rank in place.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size, and the wider Staunton chess pieces range follows the same convention.
What makes this worth carrying is that it reproduces a set that was chosen on merit rather than commissioned for show. The king to pawn ratio is the tell: at 96mm against 43mm the front rank never gets in the way, which is exactly what you want for two weeks of serious chess. It is plain to the point of austere, so anyone shopping on carving or ornament should look elsewhere, and at roughly 33g a piece it is light against a modern tournament set. Buy it for the proportions and the provenance.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm, standard tournament sizing. That comes from the 41mm king base rather than the 96mm height.
No, and that is the interesting part. It reproduces a Swedish club set already in use since 1931, credited to Gustaf Nyholm, which the Olympiad organisers adopted rather than commissioning something new.
At 43mm it is under half the 96mm king height. That keeps the front rank low so a locked pawn chain never obscures the officers behind it, which is a real advantage in long tournament play.
Weighted with an iron stud set into each base under thick green felt. Total set weight is around 1,138g, roughly 33g a piece.
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. Other reproductions are in our reproduction chess pieces.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
96mm (3.75 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
41mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Queen height |
87mm (3.4 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
38mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
73mm (2.8 inch) |
|
Bishop base diameter |
36mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Knight height |
63mm (2.5 inch) |
|
Knight base diameter |
37mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Rook height |
49mm (1.9 inch) |
|
Rook base diameter |
36mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
43mm (1.7 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
31mm (1.2 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo) |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Weighting |
Weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,138g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in sheesham and 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.
The seventh Chess Olympiad ran in Stockholm from 31 July to 14 August 1937. The equipment was not made for the event: the organisers used a Swedish club set already in circulation since 1931, most likely designed by Gustaf Nyholm, who had been Sweden's strongest player through the first decades of the century.
You can see the club origins in the proportions. The queen reaches 87mm against a 96mm king, only nine millimetres behind, while the bishop drops to 73mm and the pawn all the way to 43mm. It is a set where the royal pair dominates and the front rank stays well out of the way.
Sheesham against boxwood, iron weighted to 1,138g. It sits in our reproduction chess pieces.
Most tournament reproductions we carry are of sets commissioned for the event they are named after. This one is different: it reproduces an ordinary Swedish club set from 1931 that happened to be good enough that the Olympiad organisers saw no reason to commission anything better.
That shows in the design. There is no ornament anywhere, the turning is economical, and the only piece with hand work in it is the knight. What it does have is a very clear reading hierarchy, with a near matched royal pair at the top and a low front rank that never obscures the board.
It is also a light set at 1,138g. Anyone wanting more mass in a reproduction of similar height should compare against the heavier options in the reproduction chess pieces.
The 1937 Olympiad was an open team tournament with an unofficial women's event alongside it, organised by FIDE and held over two weeks in Stockholm. The United States took the gold medal, with a match against Sweden decided in a game between Isaac Kashdan and Gosta Stoltz that Stoltz was winning until he lost control in time trouble.
The pieces on that board were a club set that had been in use since 1931. Gustaf Nyholm is credited with the design, one of a pair he produced. Reproducing a working club set rather than a showpiece is unusual, and it is why this pattern is so plain: it was made to be used every week, not admired once.
The nine millimetre gap between the 96mm king and the 87mm queen is small by modern standards, where fifteen to twenty is typical. Below them the drop is steep: the bishop is 73mm, fourteen millimetres behind the queen, and the knight 63mm.
The pawn is where it becomes obvious. At 43mm it is under half the king's height, so a locked pawn chain sits well below the officers behind it and never blocks the view across the board. For a tournament set assessed on how quickly a player can read a position, that ratio does more work than any amount of carving.
The 41mm king base puts this set on 55mm squares, standard tournament sizing. The officers sit on 36mm to 37mm and the pawn on 31mm, so the board stays open even with the full back rank in place.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size, and the wider Staunton chess pieces range follows the same convention.
What makes this worth carrying is that it reproduces a set that was chosen on merit rather than commissioned for show. The king to pawn ratio is the tell: at 96mm against 43mm the front rank never gets in the way, which is exactly what you want for two weeks of serious chess. It is plain to the point of austere, so anyone shopping on carving or ornament should look elsewhere, and at roughly 33g a piece it is light against a modern tournament set. Buy it for the proportions and the provenance.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm, standard tournament sizing. That comes from the 41mm king base rather than the 96mm height.
No, and that is the interesting part. It reproduces a Swedish club set already in use since 1931, credited to Gustaf Nyholm, which the Olympiad organisers adopted rather than commissioning something new.
At 43mm it is under half the 96mm king height. That keeps the front rank low so a locked pawn chain never obscures the officers behind it, which is a real advantage in long tournament play.
Weighted with an iron stud set into each base under thick green felt. Total set weight is around 1,138g, roughly 33g a piece.
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. Other reproductions are in our reproduction chess pieces.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
96mm (3.75 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
41mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Queen height |
87mm (3.4 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
38mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
73mm (2.8 inch) |
|
Bishop base diameter |
36mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Knight height |
63mm (2.5 inch) |
|
Knight base diameter |
37mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Rook height |
49mm (1.9 inch) |
|
Rook base diameter |
36mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
43mm (1.7 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
31mm (1.2 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo) |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Weighting |
Weighted with an iron stud in each base, thick green felt |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,138g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in sheesham and 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.
