The material · Les Échiquiers du Roi

Our wood
varieties.

Explore the colour, grain and texture of the woods used in chess sets. These notes describe wood types in general. Botanical names and origins are reference information, not a certificate of species or source for an individual set. Each product page specifies its materials; ask our team about a particular model.

Walnut

Juglans regia

A rich medium brown with elegant swirling patterns.

Walnut is appreciated for its smooth feel, patina and expressive grain. Its rich colour gives chessboards a warm, refined appearance.

Origin / range: Poland
Grain: Straight to wavy, sometimes with swirling patterns.
Texture: Medium to coarse, with a slightly open texture.
Rarity

Rosewood

Dalbergia spp.

Deep brown with distinctive dark streaks. The pronounced contrasts bring depth and character to the surface.

Rosewood is appreciated for its varied grain and durability. Its warm colours and contrasts give chessboards a natural, enduring character.

Origin / range: Varies by species and supply
Texture: Medium to coarse, with a natural lustre.
Texture: Figured.
Rarity

Black ebony

Diospyros spp.

A deep black colour and natural lustre create a striking appearance.

Ebony is valued for its dense, smooth texture and deep colour, lending chess pieces and boards a distinctive presence.

Origin / range: India
Grain: Generally straight.
Texture: Very fine and even, dense and smooth.
Rarity

Macassar ebony

Diospyros celebica

Deep black stripes cross a warm brown background. Macassar ebony is recognisable by its striking pattern, distinct from the more uniform appearance of black ebony. Each cut reveals a different composition.

Its dense texture, fine polish and expressive grain make it a valued cabinetmaking wood. The care taken in selecting and working the material gives each piece its character.

Origin / range: Sulawesi, Indonesia (native range)
Grain: Contrasting black and brown streaks.
Texture: Fine, with a dense texture.
Rarity

Padauk

Pterocarpus soyauxii

Padauk is bright red when freshly cut, gradually developing deeper reddish-brown tones. Its natural lustre highlights the pattern of the wood.

Durable and appreciated for turning and carving, padauk takes a fine finish. Its strong colour brings a warm contrast to chess creations.

Origin / range: Tropical Central and West Africa (native range)
Texture: Straight to interlocked.
Texture: Coarse, with a natural lustre.
Rarity

Sesham

Dalbergia sissoo

From golden brown to deep brown, sesham has dark streaks that bring depth to its surface. Its warm tones form an expressive material.

A hard, durable wood, sesham is valued for turning and carving. It polishes well and offers a smooth surface for the details of chess pieces.

Origin / range: South Asia and neighbouring regions (native range)
Texture: Interlocked, with dark brown streaks.
Texture: Medium to coarse.
Rarity

Acacia

Acacia spp.

Warm golden-brown wood with wavy or interlocked grain, giving it a lively, natural character.

Acacia is appreciated for its durability and expressive grain, making it an attractive material for chess pieces.

Origin / range: Varies by species and supply
Texture: Wavy or interlocked, with a pronounced structure.
Texture: Medium to coarse, with a natural lustre.
Rarity

Mahogany

Swietenia spp.

Light reddish-brown with warm reflections and a ribbon-like pattern.

Mahogany is appreciated for its colour and grain, giving chessboards a classic appearance. Its warm reflections bring depth to the finished board.

Origin / range: Poland
Grain: Straight to interlocked, often with a ribbon-like pattern.
Texture: Fine to medium, smooth and even.
Rarity

Ash burl

Fraxinus excelsior

Distinctive swirling patterns with contrasting light and dark areas create a striking effect.

The varied patterns of ash burl give each board its own visual character.

Origin / range: Poland
Grain: Irregular patterns created by the growth of the fibres.
Texture: Fine to medium, with pronounced swirling figure.
Rarity

Teak

Tectona grandis

Golden brown with a natural lustre that develops over time.

Teak is valued for its durability and warm appearance. Even so, a chess set should be protected from excessive moisture and changes in humidity.

Origin / range: Southeast Asia
Grain: Straight to wavy.
Texture: Coarse, with an oily feel and natural lustre.
Rarity

Sycamore maple

Acer pseudoplatanus

Pale cream with subtle, sometimes wavy patterns, giving a light, understated appearance.

Sycamore maple is valued for its fine, smooth texture and subtle beauty, making it well suited to the light squares of chessboards.

Origin / range: Eastern Europe
Grain: Straight, sometimes with a characteristic wavy figure.
Texture: Fine and even, with a smooth texture.
Rarity

Boxwood

Pale cream with a smooth, refined appearance.

Boxwood is known for its fine grain and dense texture. It is well suited to detailed carving, giving chess pieces a clean and elegant finish.

Origin / range: Eastern Europe
Grain: Straight and fine.
Texture: Very fine and even, with a smooth, uniform surface.
Rarity

Understanding ebonised boxwood

Cherry

Prunus spp.

Warm reddish-brown that deepens with time, creating an enduring, elegant appearance.

Cherry has a smooth feel, rich colour and fine texture, lending warmth to a chessboard.

Origin / range: Poland
Grain: Straight to slightly wavy.
Texture: Fine and even, with a smooth texture.
Rarity

Hornbeam

Carpinus betulus

Pale cream.

Hornbeam is appreciated for its strength and fine texture. Its smooth feel gives chess sets a clean, refined appearance.

Origin / range: Poland
Grain: Irregular or wavy.
Texture: Fine and even, often with a smooth surface.
Rarity

Tulipwood

Liriodendron tulipifera

In its natural state, tulipwood ranges from cream to pale brown, sometimes with greenish tones. Its discreet pattern lets the geometry of a board stand out; a finish can change its appearance.

Relatively light and easy to work, tulipwood lends itself to finishes and precise assembly. Its appeal lies in its versatility and understated texture, rather than exceptional rarity.

Origin / range: Eastern North America (native range)
Grain: Generally straight and regular.
Texture: Even and uniform.
Rarity

Olive wood

Olea europaea

Golden tones and brown streaks create a luminous surface. Olive wood gives a board a warm presence, with natural variations that make each one individual.

Valued in cabinetmaking and carving, olive wood combines a dense texture with lively figuring. Its appeal comes from selecting expressive grain and working it with care.

Origin / range: Mediterranean basin (native range)
Grain: Irregular streaks and patterns with warm contrasts.
Texture: Fine, with a dense texture.
Rarity