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Lardy was a French workshop that supplied clubs and cafés through the 1950s and 60s with sets that were affordable, hard wearing and instantly recognisable. The signature is the knight: a squared off, blocky head with the mane cut as a flat plane rather than flowing locks. Once you have seen one you can pick a Lardy across a room.
This is the compact reproduction at 76mm. The officer group is unusually level, with bishop and knight both at 52mm, so the middle of the board reads as a band rather than a staircase, and the pawns come in at 37mm.
Two finishes with identical dimensions: sheesham, or ebonised boxwood. Both sit among our reproduction chess pieces.
Every measurement is shared: same 76mm king on a 31mm base, same 52mm officers, same 666g, same knight. Only the dark side changes.
Sheesham is Indian rosewood, warm golden to reddish brown with open grain and darker streaking. It gives a moderate contrast against boxwood and looks like timber, which suits the mid century club character of the pattern.
Ebonised boxwood is the same wood as the light side, dyed and finished black. The contrast is harder and faster to read, with no grain figure. Because the colour sits at the surface, a deep chip shows pale wood underneath and the high points can lighten after many years of handling. Both appear across our wood chess pieces range.
The Lardy knight is not carved to look like a horse so much as suggested with a few decisive cuts. The muzzle is squared off, the jaw line is straight, and the mane is taken back as a single flat plane instead of being separated into locks. It is the opposite approach to the luxury Indian patterns, where the mane is where all the carving time goes.
That was a manufacturing decision as much as an aesthetic one: fewer cuts meant a set a club could afford to replace. Sixty years on it reads as a style in its own right, and it is why a Lardy set looks like nothing else on a board.
Bishop and knight both stand 52mm on 28mm bases. On most sets there is a clear step between them, and it is one of the cues you use without thinking to read a position at speed.
Here you lose that step and identify the two by their heads instead. It sounds like a drawback and mostly is not: the officer group reads as a calm horizontal band, which some players find easier over a long session, and the 24mm gap up to the 76mm king gives the royals plenty of separation where it matters. It takes a game or two to recalibrate.
Squares of 40mm to 45mm, set by the 31mm king base. That is smaller than standard club sizing and it puts this set squarely in the compact and folding board category rather than the full table one.
At 76mm the king is well below the 95mm to 100mm tournament band, so this is a casual, travel and small table set. It is not the one to take to a rated game. No board is included. Square sizes are listed on every board in our chess boards collection, and the wider chess pieces collection lists the recommendation on each set.
Buy this for the knight and the size, in that order. The blocky Lardy head is a real piece of chess design history and it is the reason this pattern is still made seventy years on, not a random carving choice. At 76mm on 40mm to 45mm squares it is a compact set, properly weighted at 666g and hand finished rather than churned out. The honest limits are scale and detail: it is too small for a full sized table board and too small for club play, and the Lardy style is deliberately spare, so if you want a knight with visible mane work this is the wrong pattern by design. On finish, the sheesham suits the mid century character better and the ebonised reads faster in play.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 40mm to 45mm, set by the 31mm king base. That is smaller than club standard and suits compact and folding boards.
Only the dark side. Sheesham is an Indian rosewood with warm brown colour and open grain. Ebonised is boxwood dyed and finished black, giving harder contrast and no visible figure. Every dimension is identical.
Lardy was a French workshop that supplied clubs and cafes through the 1950s and 60s. The signature is a squared off knight with a flat cut mane, spare where Indian luxury patterns are elaborate.
Both stand 52mm, which is how the pattern is proportioned. It removes a height cue and gives the officer rank a level horizontal look. It takes a game or two to adjust if you read positions partly by piece height.
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 |
76mm (3.0 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
31mm (1.2 inch) |
|
Queen height |
65mm (2.5 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
30mm (1.2 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
52mm (2.0 inch) |
|
Knight height |
52mm (2.0 inch) |
|
Rook height |
41mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
37mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
28mm (1.1 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham or ebonised boxwood, depending on option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt on every base |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
666g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
40mm to 45mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
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.
Lardy was a French workshop that supplied clubs and cafés through the 1950s and 60s with sets that were affordable, hard wearing and instantly recognisable. The signature is the knight: a squared off, blocky head with the mane cut as a flat plane rather than flowing locks. Once you have seen one you can pick a Lardy across a room.
This is the compact reproduction at 76mm. The officer group is unusually level, with bishop and knight both at 52mm, so the middle of the board reads as a band rather than a staircase, and the pawns come in at 37mm.
Two finishes with identical dimensions: sheesham, or ebonised boxwood. Both sit among our reproduction chess pieces.
Every measurement is shared: same 76mm king on a 31mm base, same 52mm officers, same 666g, same knight. Only the dark side changes.
Sheesham is Indian rosewood, warm golden to reddish brown with open grain and darker streaking. It gives a moderate contrast against boxwood and looks like timber, which suits the mid century club character of the pattern.
Ebonised boxwood is the same wood as the light side, dyed and finished black. The contrast is harder and faster to read, with no grain figure. Because the colour sits at the surface, a deep chip shows pale wood underneath and the high points can lighten after many years of handling. Both appear across our wood chess pieces range.
The Lardy knight is not carved to look like a horse so much as suggested with a few decisive cuts. The muzzle is squared off, the jaw line is straight, and the mane is taken back as a single flat plane instead of being separated into locks. It is the opposite approach to the luxury Indian patterns, where the mane is where all the carving time goes.
That was a manufacturing decision as much as an aesthetic one: fewer cuts meant a set a club could afford to replace. Sixty years on it reads as a style in its own right, and it is why a Lardy set looks like nothing else on a board.
Bishop and knight both stand 52mm on 28mm bases. On most sets there is a clear step between them, and it is one of the cues you use without thinking to read a position at speed.
Here you lose that step and identify the two by their heads instead. It sounds like a drawback and mostly is not: the officer group reads as a calm horizontal band, which some players find easier over a long session, and the 24mm gap up to the 76mm king gives the royals plenty of separation where it matters. It takes a game or two to recalibrate.
Squares of 40mm to 45mm, set by the 31mm king base. That is smaller than standard club sizing and it puts this set squarely in the compact and folding board category rather than the full table one.
At 76mm the king is well below the 95mm to 100mm tournament band, so this is a casual, travel and small table set. It is not the one to take to a rated game. No board is included. Square sizes are listed on every board in our chess boards collection, and the wider chess pieces collection lists the recommendation on each set.
Buy this for the knight and the size, in that order. The blocky Lardy head is a real piece of chess design history and it is the reason this pattern is still made seventy years on, not a random carving choice. At 76mm on 40mm to 45mm squares it is a compact set, properly weighted at 666g and hand finished rather than churned out. The honest limits are scale and detail: it is too small for a full sized table board and too small for club play, and the Lardy style is deliberately spare, so if you want a knight with visible mane work this is the wrong pattern by design. On finish, the sheesham suits the mid century character better and the ebonised reads faster in play.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 40mm to 45mm, set by the 31mm king base. That is smaller than club standard and suits compact and folding boards.
Only the dark side. Sheesham is an Indian rosewood with warm brown colour and open grain. Ebonised is boxwood dyed and finished black, giving harder contrast and no visible figure. Every dimension is identical.
Lardy was a French workshop that supplied clubs and cafes through the 1950s and 60s. The signature is a squared off knight with a flat cut mane, spare where Indian luxury patterns are elaborate.
Both stand 52mm, which is how the pattern is proportioned. It removes a height cue and gives the officer rank a level horizontal look. It takes a game or two to adjust if you read positions partly by piece height.
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 |
76mm (3.0 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
31mm (1.2 inch) |
|
Queen height |
65mm (2.5 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
30mm (1.2 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
52mm (2.0 inch) |
|
Knight height |
52mm (2.0 inch) |
|
Rook height |
41mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
37mm (1.4 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
28mm (1.1 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham or ebonised boxwood, depending on option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt on every base |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
666g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
40mm to 45mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
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.
