These moderately priced sets made from wood, marble or other local fabrics can be ravishing conversation pieces or cosmetic components, even if one does not play chess.

To Boot, one can find chess pieces that are fashioned after a smorgasbord of themes, from civil war chess sets that symbolise the North and South to those based on books and motion pictures, such as Lord of the Rings.

An ancient, make that vintage, chess set on the top ledge of the laundry room in my parents’ house in a broke green box is nothing value searchers would submit to Antiques Roadshow for an appraisal. Notwithstanding, this set of black and red chess pieces, with the serious feel of even the pawns, is invaluable.

In my history are thoughts of childhood, an aunt who kicked the bucket after I got out of grammar school, and hours discovering the game and competing with my younger brother. Instead of growing into chess, I matured out of it, more things going on and less patience as I moved toward adolescence. This chess set provokes precious memories beyond the battered board and well aged pawns.

I remember when I was young that my dad would just on special occasions pull out the family chess set. I was perpetually so charged to see the hinged wooden box with the black and burn one inch checkers on it. This was not your garden variety chess set, this was a entirely wooden hand crafted set.

I can remember each and every last chess pieces with amazing detail, the knights, so rigorous and strong. The rooks painstakingly even cylinders with the tiniest details showing hours of work. I still have that chess set, it’s devoid a couple of pieces nowadays, but I still can’t wait to present it to my boys when they’re senior enough to treasure it.