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The French Lardy is the pattern most club players picture when they think of a wooden chess set. Low rounded crown on the king, a knight with a short muzzle and an alert set to the head, a bishop carrying one clean notch. Nothing is oversized and nothing is fussy, which is why the shapes still read clearly from the far side of a table seventy years on.
This reproduction runs a 95mm king on a 38mm base, double weighted throughout, with the dark side turned from Indian rosewood and the light side from natural boxwood. Indian rosewood is the densest of the timbers this pattern is offered in, dark and closely figured without going to the flat black of an ebonised set.
It comes with a 51cm board, 20mm thick, in rosewood and maple. It sits among our reproduction chess sets.
The same carving is listed without a board on the Reproduction French Lardy 95mm Chess Pieces, where Indian rosewood is one of three timbers offered alongside ebonised boxwood and sheesham. If a board with 50mm to 55mm squares is already in the house, that listing gives you the identical pieces and leaves the board decision alone.
What this combination brings is a board with real substance behind it. At 20mm thick and 4,000g it carries far more heft than the 12mm and 13mm boards that usually accompany a set at the accessible end of the market, and rosewood dark squares against maple light squares give the surface a warm, deep contrast under the pieces standing on it.
It is worth being clear on the fit. These pieces are cut for squares between 50mm and 55mm and the board supplied sits at 50mm, the close end of that window, which gives a full looking board once both sides are developed. If you prefer more air around a position, our chess boards collection carries 55mm alternatives.
Double weighting is the single feature that separates a set you enjoy using from one you tolerate. The mass is carried low in the base, so a piece settles when it lands on a square instead of rocking, and a king does not topple when a sleeve brushes past it in a blitz finish. Across the full roster this set runs to about 1,250g, which is club specification rather than decoration.
The weighting is added by hand during manufacture, so the finished roster carries a tolerance rather than an exact figure. Within a single set the pieces are matched to each other, which is what actually matters at the board. It is the kind of detail that goes unnoticed until you play on a set without it. The same standard runs through our tournament chess sets.
Look at the knight first, because that is where reproductions of this pattern usually go wrong. The Lardy knight has a short muzzle, a mane cut in shallow steps, and a head lifted rather than tucked. It stands at 69mm, close enough to the 74mm bishop that the two read as a pair holding the flank, and it is the carving detail the original workshops were known for.
Above them the queen sits at 81mm and the king at 95mm, so the royal pair separates cleanly from the officers without exaggeration. The rook at 56mm and the pawn at 49mm keep the base of the position low and even. It is a hierarchy that resolves at a glance, which is exactly what a tournament pattern is for.
The board measures 51cm across, which is 20 inches, with 50mm playing squares, 20mm of thickness and a weight of 4,000g. The dark squares are rosewood and the light squares maple, and there is no notation printed around the edge. Four kilograms and two centimetres of thickness give it the kind of presence that stays put on a table rather than shifting when a piece is placed firmly.
A 38mm king base on a 50mm square covers roughly three quarters of it, the proportion tournament play is built around, though at the close end of the range. Thirty four pieces including two spare queens, plus the board. No storage box. Other pairings sit across our wood chess sets.
The board is what makes this listing interesting, because 20mm and 4,000g is a serious amount of timber to find under a set at this level, and rosewood dark squares against maple give the surface a depth that a thin board never reaches. The pieces hold up their end too, with double weighting and a 95mm king that is straightforward club specification rather than display sizing. The honest caveat is the square size: at 50mm the board sits at the close end of what a 38mm king base wants, so a developed middlegame looks full and captures need lifting clear rather than sliding aside. Buy it if you want one purchase that covers both halves and you like a board that reads dense and full; look at 55mm alternatives if you prefer space around a position.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
51cm x 51cm, which is 20 inches, with 50mm playing squares. It is 20mm thick and weighs around 4,000g, with rosewood dark squares and maple light squares.
Yes. A 95mm king on a 38mm base is cut for squares between 50mm and 55mm. The supplied board sits at 50mm, and anything up to 55mm gives the position more air.
Extra mass is set into the base of each piece, twice what a standard weighted set carries. The pieces settle rather than rock when placed, and the full roster comes to around 1,250g.
It is the densest and most closely figured of them, darker than sheesham without reaching the flat black of an ebonised set. Ebonised boxwood and sheesham are the other two timbers this pattern is offered in.
Wipe pieces and board with a dry, soft cloth, and keep both out of direct sunlight and away from heaters. Rapid drying is what causes turned hardwood to crack.
No. This listing is the 34 pieces and the board only.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
95mm (3.75 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
38mm (1.52 inch) |
|
Queen height |
81mm, on a 38mm base |
|
Bishop height |
74mm, on a 33mm base |
|
Knight height |
69mm, on a 33mm base |
|
Rook height |
56mm, on a 33mm base |
|
Pawn height |
49mm, on a 29mm base |
|
Dark pieces |
Indian rosewood |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Double weighted |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Chess pieces weight |
1,250g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm |
|
Board size |
51cm x 51cm (20 inch) |
|
Board square size |
50mm |
|
Board thickness |
20mm |
|
Board timbers |
Rosewood dark squares, maple light squares |
|
Board weight |
4,000g approximate |
|
Board notation |
None |
|
Pattern |
French Lardy tournament reproduction |
|
Pieces origin |
Hand crafted in India |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
34 chess pieces in Indian rosewood and boxwood, including two spare queens
One 51cm rosewood and maple chess board with 50mm squares
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 French Lardy is the pattern most club players picture when they think of a wooden chess set. Low rounded crown on the king, a knight with a short muzzle and an alert set to the head, a bishop carrying one clean notch. Nothing is oversized and nothing is fussy, which is why the shapes still read clearly from the far side of a table seventy years on.
This reproduction runs a 95mm king on a 38mm base, double weighted throughout, with the dark side turned from Indian rosewood and the light side from natural boxwood. Indian rosewood is the densest of the timbers this pattern is offered in, dark and closely figured without going to the flat black of an ebonised set.
It comes with a 51cm board, 20mm thick, in rosewood and maple. It sits among our reproduction chess sets.
The same carving is listed without a board on the Reproduction French Lardy 95mm Chess Pieces, where Indian rosewood is one of three timbers offered alongside ebonised boxwood and sheesham. If a board with 50mm to 55mm squares is already in the house, that listing gives you the identical pieces and leaves the board decision alone.
What this combination brings is a board with real substance behind it. At 20mm thick and 4,000g it carries far more heft than the 12mm and 13mm boards that usually accompany a set at the accessible end of the market, and rosewood dark squares against maple light squares give the surface a warm, deep contrast under the pieces standing on it.
It is worth being clear on the fit. These pieces are cut for squares between 50mm and 55mm and the board supplied sits at 50mm, the close end of that window, which gives a full looking board once both sides are developed. If you prefer more air around a position, our chess boards collection carries 55mm alternatives.
Double weighting is the single feature that separates a set you enjoy using from one you tolerate. The mass is carried low in the base, so a piece settles when it lands on a square instead of rocking, and a king does not topple when a sleeve brushes past it in a blitz finish. Across the full roster this set runs to about 1,250g, which is club specification rather than decoration.
The weighting is added by hand during manufacture, so the finished roster carries a tolerance rather than an exact figure. Within a single set the pieces are matched to each other, which is what actually matters at the board. It is the kind of detail that goes unnoticed until you play on a set without it. The same standard runs through our tournament chess sets.
Look at the knight first, because that is where reproductions of this pattern usually go wrong. The Lardy knight has a short muzzle, a mane cut in shallow steps, and a head lifted rather than tucked. It stands at 69mm, close enough to the 74mm bishop that the two read as a pair holding the flank, and it is the carving detail the original workshops were known for.
Above them the queen sits at 81mm and the king at 95mm, so the royal pair separates cleanly from the officers without exaggeration. The rook at 56mm and the pawn at 49mm keep the base of the position low and even. It is a hierarchy that resolves at a glance, which is exactly what a tournament pattern is for.
The board measures 51cm across, which is 20 inches, with 50mm playing squares, 20mm of thickness and a weight of 4,000g. The dark squares are rosewood and the light squares maple, and there is no notation printed around the edge. Four kilograms and two centimetres of thickness give it the kind of presence that stays put on a table rather than shifting when a piece is placed firmly.
A 38mm king base on a 50mm square covers roughly three quarters of it, the proportion tournament play is built around, though at the close end of the range. Thirty four pieces including two spare queens, plus the board. No storage box. Other pairings sit across our wood chess sets.
The board is what makes this listing interesting, because 20mm and 4,000g is a serious amount of timber to find under a set at this level, and rosewood dark squares against maple give the surface a depth that a thin board never reaches. The pieces hold up their end too, with double weighting and a 95mm king that is straightforward club specification rather than display sizing. The honest caveat is the square size: at 50mm the board sits at the close end of what a 38mm king base wants, so a developed middlegame looks full and captures need lifting clear rather than sliding aside. Buy it if you want one purchase that covers both halves and you like a board that reads dense and full; look at 55mm alternatives if you prefer space around a position.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
51cm x 51cm, which is 20 inches, with 50mm playing squares. It is 20mm thick and weighs around 4,000g, with rosewood dark squares and maple light squares.
Yes. A 95mm king on a 38mm base is cut for squares between 50mm and 55mm. The supplied board sits at 50mm, and anything up to 55mm gives the position more air.
Extra mass is set into the base of each piece, twice what a standard weighted set carries. The pieces settle rather than rock when placed, and the full roster comes to around 1,250g.
It is the densest and most closely figured of them, darker than sheesham without reaching the flat black of an ebonised set. Ebonised boxwood and sheesham are the other two timbers this pattern is offered in.
Wipe pieces and board with a dry, soft cloth, and keep both out of direct sunlight and away from heaters. Rapid drying is what causes turned hardwood to crack.
No. This listing is the 34 pieces and the board only.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
95mm (3.75 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
38mm (1.52 inch) |
|
Queen height |
81mm, on a 38mm base |
|
Bishop height |
74mm, on a 33mm base |
|
Knight height |
69mm, on a 33mm base |
|
Rook height |
56mm, on a 33mm base |
|
Pawn height |
49mm, on a 29mm base |
|
Dark pieces |
Indian rosewood |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Double weighted |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Chess pieces weight |
1,250g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm |
|
Board size |
51cm x 51cm (20 inch) |
|
Board square size |
50mm |
|
Board thickness |
20mm |
|
Board timbers |
Rosewood dark squares, maple light squares |
|
Board weight |
4,000g approximate |
|
Board notation |
None |
|
Pattern |
French Lardy tournament reproduction |
|
Pieces origin |
Hand crafted in India |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
34 chess pieces in Indian rosewood and boxwood, including two spare queens
One 51cm rosewood and maple chess board with 50mm squares
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.
