Rosewood & Boxwood Chess Pieces

Rosewood refers to a rare tight grained wood with richly hued timbers, usually deep reddish-brown in color and with striking dark veining. Rosewood is a strong and heavy wood, taking an excellent polish and is perfect for wooden chess pieces. Due its hardy characteristics, Rosewood is more difficult to work and carve, resulting in slighter higher prices for these pieces.

Bud Rosewood is a distinct, rare type of Rosewood that has a complex and unmatched color depth to its appearance. It must be expertly carved by master craftsmen and is used on only very high end chess pieces, and with stunning detail.

Boxwood is a fine grained hardwood that has a slightly yellowish hue to its appearance. It is favorite among woodcarvers due to its workability and knack for taking fine detail. Boxwood is also a very dense wood, as it is one of the few woods that has a greater density than water. In 15th century Europe, Boxwood was widely used for engraving, printing and eventually mold-making. It remains a popular choice for wood sculptures and carvings today.