The Staunton Chess Pieces

by Bill Wall

Centurion Chess Set in the Staunton Design

The Staunton chess pieces are the standard pattern for chess sets used in all world chess federations and United States Chess Federation events.

On March 1, 1849 the pattern was first registered by Nathaniel Cook. Prior to that, the pieces most commonly used were called the St. George design chessmen, followed by the Calvert, Edinburgh, Lund and Merrifield designs. Cook registered his wooden chess pattern under the Ornamental Designs Act of 1842.

In September 1849 the manufacturing rights were bought by John Jaques of London, workers of ivory and fine woods. Jaques was the brother-in-law of Nathaniel Cook. The sets were made in wood and ivory. The unweighted King was 3.5 inches in size. The weighted  King was 4.4 inches in size. Jaques removed much of the decorative features that topped earlier chess patterns, and was able to manufacture the new design at less cost.

Jaques of London Chess Set

The King was represented by a crown and the Queen was represented by a coronet. The design of the knight came from the Greek horse of the Eglin Marbles in the British Museum (brought to the museum in 1806).

On September 8, 1849 the first wooden chess sets from Jaques became available. The first sets actually had a different pattern to the King's Rook and King's Knight that distinguished it from the Queen's Rook and the Queen's Knight.

On the same day that the Jacques chess sets were available, Howard Staunton recommended and endorsed the sets in the Illustrated London News. Nathaniel Cook was Staunton's editor at the Illustrated London News (small world, huh?) The ad that appeared in the newspaper called it Mr. Staunton's pattern.

Heritage Chess Pieces

Later, Staunton began endorsing the set and had his signature on the box of Staunton chess pieces. One of Staunton's chess books was given free with every Staunton chess set.

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