Oak has been an ally of Tuscan luxury for half a century, and the people here have a deep seated, innate respect for its quality, longevity and value. In the Tuscan hillsides, oak has been used in the wine making process by vineyards for more than 600 years. In Florence, where the first bottle of Chianti was ever sold, the same oak is used by the chess craftsmen of Italfama.
Florentine Craftsmanship
Here they use it to create the foundations of a luxury chess set upon which they place gold and silver. The board is hand made, just like the chess pieces, not because it has to be but rather because it should be. As a result, our Regency Chess customers can expect to own an ornate chess set that will last for generations.
In fact, this Italian chess set's permanence, as much as its beauty, was a primary reason we decided to stock it.
This oak chess board has an intricately carved border and at 19 inches it holds it's place well in a room without being too intrusive. There is an almost understated extravagance to it. The coloration is elegant without pomposity, the playing surface rustic but not worn and the patterning is classical without being exuberant.The Italfama craftsmen set themselves a challenge to be able to create pieces worthy of sitting on such a board. Naturally, their starting point was gold and silver.
Gold and Silver Chessmen
The San Severeo Chess Pieces are cast from 30-year old Italfama moulds before being coated in Gold and Silver plating. The actual design is not too far away from the classic Staunton Chessmen shape, with quickly identifiable Royal pieces and recognizable Bishop, Knight and Rook all featured. The quality in these metal chess pieces is second-to-none. The top of each piece is screwed through a solid oak midriff and into its corresponding base. There is no glue or sealer involved. The Florentine craftsmen have constructed a truly beautiful set from oak, gold and silver. Essentially the San Severeo Chessmen are built to last and are a great investment.
