Chess House

Artists

Raphael Neff

Tin Can Cigar adds the STACK in their gentlemen's line

Corey shows off his STACK chessboard at the opening of Lynden’s @tincancigarco shop early 2023. The STACK chessboard is a fascinating and exclusive centerpiece, the most unique and functional chess board ever made. For those seeking extraordinary craftsmanship, innovative concepts, and the thrill of chess, it's an eye-catching conversation piece. When you're ready for a game, slide the stack to the center of the table remove the magnetic, suede wrap, and let the 4 quadrants join for a perfect playing field. The Limited Edition STACK features a 3 sided, dovetailed, walnut display box that perfectly complements the fine hardwood chessboard and is wrapped in the soft suede magnetic cover that both protects and shows off the piece. Each one is also engraved with the emblem and its own unique number ## of 250.Orignally from Switzerland, these skills were passed down through five generations. This lost art of woodworking is continually refined, blending timeless methods with the latest knowledge of wood behavior.For example every design must be carefully planned with the appropriate wood selection and cuts to account for variations in humidity that cause natural expansion and contraction of wood. To craft a wood product that will last for generations, John gives great attention to every phase of production including wood selection, drying, cutting, curing, crafting, and the multi-step finishing process that results in the smooth, elegant, lustrous finish for which the JLP products are known. Every product is personally overseen by John and must meet his standards before releasing them to Chess House. Here are the STACK products, only available at Chess House. Sold out Sold out
Read More

Artists

Josh Burger

Sanfilippo Chess Series - Set XXVI Dragon Slayers

The set shown here twenty sixth in the Sanfilippo Chess Series. Each set is an original work of art hand built from terra cotta clay, sculpted, carved and then glazed to a high fire for a permanent finish and durability. Dave Sanfilippo has crafted chess sets for a while now. He has plans to continue until he feels inspired to make his final set - which he says, will be his biggest to date, a very prominent, strong design. He currently shows/sells his work in two galleries in Pennsylvania and his sets are auctioned at Material Culture, Philadelphia, PA. Some of Dave's other sets can be found at Battle for Evergreen Mountain - The Wolf Sanctuary of PARaiders of the Aegean Sea - Langman GalleryInto the Peaked Highlands: Land of the Dragons - Celtic Myth & MoonlightThe Quest for Melissa’s Honey - Honey Acres Museum You can also find Dave's 21st set "Skirmish in the Bohemian Forest"  in the ShachMuseum in Strobeck, Germany which is a pretty big honor! The first thirteen sets were hand built from terra cotta clay, low fired and painted. Set I           The Greek City States Set II          Attack of the Siege Towers Set III         Battle for the Fertile Valley Set IV         Battle in the Black Forest Set V         The Fight for the Mountain Springs Set VI         The Defense of Shea's Woods Set VII        The Assault on Orpheus's Orchard Set VIII      The Fallen Armies Set IX         The March on the Nastos River Set X          Conquest for the Wheat Fields Set XI        Control for the Bridges of Perenthus Set XII       Invasion of the Vikings : Conquest for the Emerald Isle Set XIII      Pursuit for the Lapis Stone Sets fourteen and beyond are hand built from terra cotta clay and glazed to a high fire for a permanent finish and durability for play. Set XIV       Rebellion at the Copper Mine Set XV       The Compromise for Safe Passage Set XVI      Ambush for the Alps Set XVII     Division in the Sate Set XVIII     The Intrusion into Paulus's Bay Set XIX       Theodoro's Coup Set XX        Uprising at the  Iron Furnace Set XXI      Skirmish in the Bohemian Forst   (This set is in the Schachmuseum in Strobeck, Germany) Set XXII      Encounter with the Secret Temple Builders - The Masons Set XXIII    The Trespass into Herleva's Wolf Den Set XXIV     The Battle for Evergreen Mountain  (This set is in the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania) Set XXV     The Quest for Melissa's Honey  (This set is in the Honey Acres Museum in Ashippun, Wisconsin) Set XXVI     Dragon Slayers Set XXVII   Raiders of the Aegean Sea Set XXVIII   Into the Peaked Highlands - Land of the Dragons Set XXIX     Revolt at the Coal Mine  (This set is in the No.9 Coal Mine and Museum in Lansford, Pennsylvania) Set XXX     Journey into the Valley of Sandstone Set XXXI    Standoff at the Coal Mine Set XXXII   Confrontation in the Pyrenees Set XXXIII   The Encroachment into Alianna's Pepper Field Set XXXIV   Pearl Hunters of the Adriatic Sea Set XXXV    The Crossing into Adrasteia's Plum Fields - found in Long Trout Winery in Auburn, PA XXXVI Mutiny at the Limestone Furnace - found in the World Chess Hall of Fame in St.Louis, Missouri XXXVII    Pirates of the Ionian Sea The Final Set - "The Peaceful Tribes" - found in State Game Lands #106 PA For this set the pieces are as follows Dragon Side Pawns - Warrior DragonsRooks - Dragon’s NestKnights - Dragon HorseBishops - Senior DragonQueen - Dragon QueenKing - Dragon King Dragon Slayer SidePawns - Infantry with Dragon SpearsRooks - Fire TowerKnights - HorseBishops - High Priest with Magic SphereQueen - The Dragon Slayer with the Mighty SwordKing - Chieftain   The Process Each piece is hand built and sculpted from terra cotta clay. When the clay becomes leathery/hardens the pieces are carved. The pieces take several weeks to dry as they are not hollow. The pieces are then low fired, with a cone rating of 4-6 for over fifteen hours. After the low fire, the pieces are under glazed, glazed, and fired high for over twelve hours with a cone rating of 5-6. A Cone rating means that you can fire that clay at any temperature up to that cone. The closer you get to the maximum rated cone, the stronger and denser your clay will be. You cannot fire a clay higher than its maximum rated Cone, or it will melt. Low-fire clay can only be fired up to Cone 04, or sometimes a little higher. Unlike mid and high fire, it never shrinks much or gets strong and dense even when fired to its maximum temperature. The main advantage to using a low-fire clay when low firing is that your glazes may craze less than if you used a Cone 10 or Cone 6 clay. As always, you must fire your glaze to the Cone that is specified for that glaze, regardless what clay you use. Just make sure you use a clay rated at least as high as the glaze. During the firings some fracturing, or cracks may develop. These cracks are filled with silver, copper or brass and each piece is unique. The pieces have a permanent lasting finish and are durable for play.
Read More

Artists