The Red Isle of Lewis Chessmen

These chess pieces are replicas of the originals which were discovered on the Isle of Lewis off the West Coast of Scotland and which are now housed safely and securely in the British Museum of London and in Edinburgh. Many pieces were discovered and this is our interpretation of the Isle of Lewis chess set. The Isle of Lewis chessmen were featured in the movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

In 1831 the sea carried away a sandbank on the Isle of Lewis uncovering a mysterious building that had been buried under the sand. A peasant working nearby found what he concluded to be a collection of Elves and Gnomes. The superstitious highlander flung down his spade and fled home in horror. Superstition in Lewis had survived in a powerful form. Thus, when the peasant first looked at the group of singular little ivory figures it was natural that they should appear as the pigmy sprites of Celtic folklore. However, he was induced by his wife to return to the spot and take the figures home. He sold them to a local collector who realized they were chessmen. There were 78 pieces in all belonging to eight or more sets; 67 are now in the British Museum and the rest in the National Museum, Edinburgh. Experts are unanimous in regarding them as the most astonishing collection of ancient chessmen in existence.

Deluxe Chess Sets

The Reykjavik II Series Library Chess Set and Tiroir Combination

Deluxe Chess Sets is proud to offer the Reykjavik II Series Chess set. A full library-sized Chess set, it features a 3.25" King with a 1.5" diameter base. The Chess pieces are hand carved by our master artisans and crafted out of the highest grade woods. The Chess pieces are heavily weighted with luxurious billiard cloth base pads and a beautiful finish. The design of the Reykjavik II Chess set is a scaled reproduction of the Chess set used by the legendary American Grandmaster Bobby Fischer when he won the 1972 World Chess Championship against the reigning World Champion Grandmaster Boris Spassky in Reykjavik, Iceland. The Chess set has been designed to withstand years of use (and abuse), as it lacks many of the ornate details commonly found on Chess Sets that can be susceptible to damage in the heat of battle. For example, the Chess set features reinforced Pawn collars and oversized Rook ramparts for unmatched durability. The Reykjavik II Series Chess set is ideal for those that are interested in both the historical importance of the game of Chess, as well as those looking for an attractive Chess set that is both economical and durable.

As with all of our Chess sets, the Reykjavik II SeriesChessmen exemplifies a perfect combination of distinct beauty and functionality. It has been designed to withstand the rigors of practical play while maintaining an elegance. The design, quality and craftsmanship of this set is UNMATCHED by any set of Chessmen in its price range. Nothing even comes close!

The Art Deco Chess Set

The streamlined, geometric elegance of this beautiful chess set reflects the essence of Art Deco design. From the mid 1920s until the outbreak of the Second World War, Art Deco epitomised all that was glamorous and modern in contemporary design. It was this style that Hollywood embraced during its golden age. Film sets, publicity photographs and the luxury goods that surrounded film stars were inevitably Art Deco in spirit.

ALL STUDIO ANNE CARLTON CHESSMEN ARE MADE FROM POLYRESIN, WHICH IS A CRUSHED STONE COMPOSITE. IT HAS THE LOOK, FEEL AND WEIGHT OF STONE, BUT THE DURABILITY OF A PLASTIC, MAKING IT THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

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The Mini Roman Chess Set

The miniature set is a compact set that shows the elegance of the Roman era. The chessmen are made of an antiqued ground stone with the opposing side stained a rich burgundy brown.

The King portrays Julius Caesar, traditionally dressed in a toga, the distinctive costume which remained fashionable throughout the whole of the Roman period. Caesar had several wives, none of whom played a significant role in Roman history. The Queen, therefore, typifies a lady of noble birth in the dress of the period; the Cloak or Palla, with its multiple folds which resulted in its extravagant length. The head-dress is also traditional, originating and modified from the original Greek. The Bishop is represented by the Standard Bearer carrying the insignia of the legion. He wears a General's mantle over the coat of mail with its traditional bronze decorations. The Knight is a gallant soldier's horse and the pawns are fighting foot soldiers. The rook takes it form from the Roman capital.

ALL STUDIO ANNE CARLTON CHESSMEN ARE MADE FROM POLYRESIN, WHICH IS A CRUSHED STONE COMPOSITE. IT HAS THE LOOK, FEEL AND WEIGHT OF STONE, BUT THE DURABILITY OF A PLASTIC, MAKING IT THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

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The Camaratta Signature Series Luxury Chessmen

Learned to play chess at age 16. First rating, 6 months later, 1825. OTB Master. Abandoned serious OTB play around 1972 due to family and professional pressures. Took up Correspondence chess in 1972. Played in three USCF Absolute Championships (1977, 1978, 1979) and Golden Knights with some success. In the 1977 Absolute, placed 2nd; 1978 Absolute, took 1st place; 1979 Absolute, placed 2nd. Successfully represented the US on the Correspondence Olympic team, played first Board. Correspondence Chess Master. Achieved the ICCF International Master Title. Taught chess in grade schools and adult evening schools. Gave numerous exhibitions in High Schools, prisons and convalescent homes. Formed several chess clubs, most successful was, The Shoreline Chess Club of Madison, CT, in 1980, which is still active. He was active in USCF at the Committee level in the 1980s (Formed the Computer Rating Agency and wrote the procedures, started and wrote the original guidelines for induction to the Hall of Fame. Frank was elected to the Policy Board of the United States Chess Federation as Vice President in 1990, as Treasurer in 1993 and to the Executive board as VP of Finance in 2001. He has also chaired the Correspondence Chess, Ratings, Finance and Life Members Asset committees and is an active chess player. He holds the title of Correspondence Chess International Master (IM) and has a current USCF Rating of 2320. Frank is the founder of the House of Staunton and is widely regarded as the world's leading authority on the Staunton Pattern Chessmen, and developed the Codex for the Jaques of London Chessmen. DeluxeChessSets.com

The Frank Camaratta Signature Series Luxury Chess Set

The Frank Camaratta Signature Series Chess set features a 4.4" King with a 2.0" diameter base and is heavily weighted. The Chess pieces are hand carved by our finest artisans and crafted out your choice of either Antiqued Boxwood/Genuine Ebony or Boxwood/Genuine Ebony. These master pieces are heavily weighted and have luxurious black English leather base pads on each of the Chessmen, each featuring Frank Camaratta's signature stamped in gold. As with all of our Chessmen, the Frank Camaratta Luxury Chess Set exemplifies a perfect combination of distinct beauty and functionality. It has been designed to withstand the rigors of practical play while maintaining an elegance which has become the hallmark of a House of Staunton chess set. The design, quality and craftsmanship of this set is UNMATCHED by any set of Chessmen in its price range. Nothing even comes close! DeluxeChessSets.com

Roman Chessmen

The King is represented by Julius Caesar, traditionally dressed in a toga, the distinctive costume that remained fashionable throughout the whole of the Roman period. Caesar had several wives, none of whom played a significant role in Roman history. The queen is dressed in a cloak or palla, with its multiple folds resulting in its extravagant length, typical of the period. The headdress is also traditional, modified from the original Greek. The standard bearer carrying the insignia of the legion represents the bishop. He wears a generals mantle over the coat of mail with its traditional bronze decorations. The knight is a gallant soldiers horse and the pawns are fighting foot soldiers. The rook takes the form of a Roman column.

ALL STUDIO ANNE CARLTON CHESSMEN ARE MADE FROM POLYRESIN, WHICH IS A CRUSHED STONE COMPOSITE. IT HAS THE LOOK, FEEL AND WEIGHT OF STONE, BUT THE DURABILITY OF A PLASTIC, MAKING IT THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

DeluxeChessSets.com