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Simpsons in the Strand was the cigar divan where London's chess culture lived through the second half of the nineteenth century, and where the 1851 tournament players sat. This is a reproduction of the pattern used there.
It looks unlike anything else we carry. The queen stands at 100mm against a 107mm king, a gap of only seven millimetres, and the bishop reaches 88mm. The whole set is tall, narrow and closely stepped, where a Staunton is squat and widely spaced.
Unweighted and unfelted exactly as the originals were, in a choice of genuine ebony or bud rosewood against boxwood. It sits among our reproduction chess pieces.
Every measurement is shared. Same 107mm king on a 40mm base, same 100mm queen, same 61mm pawns, same carving, both unweighted and unfelted. The choice is the dark side and about seventy grams across the whole set.
Genuine ebony is the higher contrast option and the closer match to how a well kept divan set would have looked. It is heartwood rather than dyed boxwood, so the near black is in the timber, and the full 34 pieces come to around 700g.
Bud rosewood is the warmer and more figured option. The burl grain swirls differently on each piece, red brown rather than black, which softens the contrast against the boxwood and suits the period look in a different way. At 630g it is the lighter of the two. Both sit among our reproduction chess pieces.
The supplier is explicit that the pieces are non weighted and non felted, as per the original design. That is a faithfulness decision, not a saving.
Weighting became standard later, when clocks and faster time controls made stability matter. A set from a Victorian cigar divan was handled slowly, on cloth, in a room with no clock, and nobody in 1860 expected a rook to right itself when nudged. Reproducing it with modern weights would give a better playing set and a worse reproduction.
What that means in practice: at roughly 21g a piece in ebony and 19g in bud rosewood these are light, they slide rather than settle, and they will topple if the table is knocked. Buy accordingly.
Every number here runs against Staunton convention. A 107mm Staunton would sit on a 47mm base; this sits on 40mm. Its queen would be 20mm below the king; this one is 7mm below. Its pawns would be around 55mm; these are 61mm, taller than the rooks on several sets we sell.
The result is a board with almost no height hierarchy. Instead of a clear descending ladder you get a tall, dense forest where pieces are distinguished by their heads rather than their stature, and at a glance the royal pair reads as two nearly equal pieces separated only by the crown against the coronet. It takes real adjustment if you have only ever played on Staunton sets.
The recommendation runs from 45mm to 55mm squares, which is wide for a 107mm king. The 40mm base is what allows it: a narrow foot fits a smaller square than the height alone would suggest.
At 45mm the set is dense and closely packed, which is closest to how a divan board would have looked. At 55mm it opens out and the individual profiles read more clearly. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size. No board is included with these pieces.
This is a historical reproduction first and a playing set second, and the weight tells you so immediately: 700g in ebony or 630g in bud rosewood across 34 pieces is around a third of what a modern set at this height carries, because the divan originals had nothing in the base and this copies them honestly. What you get for that is a genuinely unusual object. A 100mm queen under a 107mm king and 61mm pawns produce a board with almost no height hierarchy, which looks nothing like a Staunton and takes some getting used to. On timber I would take the ebony for the sharper contrast and the closer period match, and the bud rosewood if you want the grain figure to be part of the appeal. Buy either if the Simpsons in the Strand connection appeals and you play slowly. If you want a set that stays put on a fast clock, this is the wrong one.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. They are unweighted and unfelted, faithful to the original divan sets, which is why the full 34 pieces come to only 700g in ebony or 630g in bud rosewood. They are light in the hand and will topple if knocked.
Only the dark timber, and about seventy grams of total weight. Genuine ebony heartwood gives a near black side with high contrast. Bud rosewood gives swirled burl figure in warm red brown. Every dimension and the carving are identical.
Squares of 45mm to 55mm. The narrow 40mm base is what lets a 107mm king sit on a smaller square than its height would normally allow.
That is the divan pattern. Seven millimetres separate them, where a Staunton would run twenty. It gives the board far less height hierarchy than modern players expect.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only. Boards sit across our chess boards collection.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
107mm (4.2 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
40mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Queen height |
100mm (3.9 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
37mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
88mm (3.4 inch) |
|
Knight height |
82mm (3.2 inch) |
|
Rook height |
73mm (2.9 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
33mm to 35mm, bishop, knight and rook |
|
Pawn height |
61mm (2.4 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
30mm (1.1 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Genuine ebony or bud rosewood, depending on option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Unweighted and unfelted, as the original design |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
700g in genuine ebony, 630g in bud rosewood |
|
Recommended square size |
45mm to 55mm |
|
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.
Simpsons in the Strand was the cigar divan where London's chess culture lived through the second half of the nineteenth century, and where the 1851 tournament players sat. This is a reproduction of the pattern used there.
It looks unlike anything else we carry. The queen stands at 100mm against a 107mm king, a gap of only seven millimetres, and the bishop reaches 88mm. The whole set is tall, narrow and closely stepped, where a Staunton is squat and widely spaced.
Unweighted and unfelted exactly as the originals were, in a choice of genuine ebony or bud rosewood against boxwood. It sits among our reproduction chess pieces.
Every measurement is shared. Same 107mm king on a 40mm base, same 100mm queen, same 61mm pawns, same carving, both unweighted and unfelted. The choice is the dark side and about seventy grams across the whole set.
Genuine ebony is the higher contrast option and the closer match to how a well kept divan set would have looked. It is heartwood rather than dyed boxwood, so the near black is in the timber, and the full 34 pieces come to around 700g.
Bud rosewood is the warmer and more figured option. The burl grain swirls differently on each piece, red brown rather than black, which softens the contrast against the boxwood and suits the period look in a different way. At 630g it is the lighter of the two. Both sit among our reproduction chess pieces.
The supplier is explicit that the pieces are non weighted and non felted, as per the original design. That is a faithfulness decision, not a saving.
Weighting became standard later, when clocks and faster time controls made stability matter. A set from a Victorian cigar divan was handled slowly, on cloth, in a room with no clock, and nobody in 1860 expected a rook to right itself when nudged. Reproducing it with modern weights would give a better playing set and a worse reproduction.
What that means in practice: at roughly 21g a piece in ebony and 19g in bud rosewood these are light, they slide rather than settle, and they will topple if the table is knocked. Buy accordingly.
Every number here runs against Staunton convention. A 107mm Staunton would sit on a 47mm base; this sits on 40mm. Its queen would be 20mm below the king; this one is 7mm below. Its pawns would be around 55mm; these are 61mm, taller than the rooks on several sets we sell.
The result is a board with almost no height hierarchy. Instead of a clear descending ladder you get a tall, dense forest where pieces are distinguished by their heads rather than their stature, and at a glance the royal pair reads as two nearly equal pieces separated only by the crown against the coronet. It takes real adjustment if you have only ever played on Staunton sets.
The recommendation runs from 45mm to 55mm squares, which is wide for a 107mm king. The 40mm base is what allows it: a narrow foot fits a smaller square than the height alone would suggest.
At 45mm the set is dense and closely packed, which is closest to how a divan board would have looked. At 55mm it opens out and the individual profiles read more clearly. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size. No board is included with these pieces.
This is a historical reproduction first and a playing set second, and the weight tells you so immediately: 700g in ebony or 630g in bud rosewood across 34 pieces is around a third of what a modern set at this height carries, because the divan originals had nothing in the base and this copies them honestly. What you get for that is a genuinely unusual object. A 100mm queen under a 107mm king and 61mm pawns produce a board with almost no height hierarchy, which looks nothing like a Staunton and takes some getting used to. On timber I would take the ebony for the sharper contrast and the closer period match, and the bud rosewood if you want the grain figure to be part of the appeal. Buy either if the Simpsons in the Strand connection appeals and you play slowly. If you want a set that stays put on a fast clock, this is the wrong one.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
No. They are unweighted and unfelted, faithful to the original divan sets, which is why the full 34 pieces come to only 700g in ebony or 630g in bud rosewood. They are light in the hand and will topple if knocked.
Only the dark timber, and about seventy grams of total weight. Genuine ebony heartwood gives a near black side with high contrast. Bud rosewood gives swirled burl figure in warm red brown. Every dimension and the carving are identical.
Squares of 45mm to 55mm. The narrow 40mm base is what lets a 107mm king sit on a smaller square than its height would normally allow.
That is the divan pattern. Seven millimetres separate them, where a Staunton would run twenty. It gives the board far less height hierarchy than modern players expect.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only. Boards sit across our chess boards collection.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
107mm (4.2 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
40mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Queen height |
100mm (3.9 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
37mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
88mm (3.4 inch) |
|
Knight height |
82mm (3.2 inch) |
|
Rook height |
73mm (2.9 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
33mm to 35mm, bishop, knight and rook |
|
Pawn height |
61mm (2.4 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
30mm (1.1 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Genuine ebony or bud rosewood, depending on option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Unweighted and unfelted, as the original design |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
700g in genuine ebony, 630g in bud rosewood |
|
Recommended square size |
45mm to 55mm |
|
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.
