Leather Chess Boards

The boards from Kimbo are real leather and I believe that the boards Shelby is proposing are real leather as well.  I can't comment on the durability question, but I believe that good quality leather should be an excellent choice for a chess board.  It works for shoes, clothing, furniture, etc.

Waldo

I have one of the boards that Shelby used to make. It's 10 years old, has been through two hurricanes, and has never had a treatment. It's still going strong. And yes, it's real leather.

I'm also curious how the colors are applied, and whether over time the colors will fade from time or use (assuming no sun damage)?

It is my opinion that the colors are applied with tender loving care.  If you want technical details you will need to contact her at KimboLimboBotique on Etsy.  

I don't  know about color longevity.   She has been making craft items for almost 20 years but only started making the leather chess boards after watching the Queens Gambit several months back.  Comments I have seen here and elsewhere lead me to believe that if these boards are well made using good materials, they will last a long time.

Waldo

I communicated quite a bit with her before ordering my boards.  By the way, she told me she has a great father.

She is painting the colors on the board with acrylic dye and then sealing it all.  The acrylic dye allows the board to roll without cracking.

I do have to say that I really liked the Green and Beige one the most. $100 man that is nothing compared to Geoffrey Parker. After watching this video. $100 isn't so bad. Although $100 for a board that isn't wooden. It out of the picture for me. 

(5) Geoffrey Parker Games Ltd Company Movie - YouTube

Just a question as I never had a leather board. Do the ends ever lay flat? Everyone I see in the pictures seems to have one end that is curled, slightly yes but still curled. Not knocking the leather board at all as I like the look of it.  Just have an honest question.

When I ordered mine on Etsy, they were on sale.  I paid quite a bit less than the $97 per board.

I also messaged quite a bit with her, sharing pictures both ways, before making the order.

One of the boards should look like the green one in the pictures.  The other will be the same except the border will be wider with the notation letters and numbers on it.

Like I need another board is like I need another hole in my head. I really don't need another board. I do like the looks of them but I need to chill out on getting chessboards. After awhile it just sits around collecting dust and taking up room. Of course the wife is another person I need to keep happy. Getting chess stuff tends to upset her.

I have been in search for the perfect leather board for years.  The ones sold by Dewain and then Shelby at ACE are thin and don’t always lay flat.  Others have always been off the color I want for tournament play.

Her boards are thicker leather as can be seen in her pictures of the boards rolled up.  And they look to be of good color thanks to her using acrylic dyes and the sealant.

I won’t be buying the wood Ultimate or the metal one either, so I can get these 2 boards for a few payments thanks to that payment thing offered on Etsy.

@Eyechess This one is on back order but it looks like a good one. Only one color option though.

Travel Chess Set | Full Grain Leather | Saddleback Leather

Whoa!  That’s way out of my price range.

It looks nice and all.  But it is over twice what I would consider paying.

Yeah it is quite a bit but I think that it is the other leather bags and leather carrier that adds to the price. Too bad they couldn't sell the board itself.

That saddlebackleather.com design reminds me of the PlayMagnus chess combo.

Even then, the board in the pictures where they are playing, is not flat.

That's exactly what I mean. Almost in every picture, the board is not flat. As much as I like the look of leather, that is a game-breaker for me. A board has to lay flat otherwise it bothers me.

@Eyechess I think that leather boards are prone to wrinkle when they are thin. I think that there could be a solution to this flaw. Junk Mat design from the Riichi Mahjong world. A detachable frame could give a portable transport ability yet provide a flat surface every time.

Right.  I like this lady using thicker leather.  Look at the edge thickness evident in this picture

This is thicker than either leather board I have bought from ACE a number of years ago.

I am expecting for this to lie flat.

If you want to leave it out on display I'm sure it will relax and lay flat.  If you want to leave it rolled up and unroll it for an occasional game, then probably not.

Eyechess:  Didn't you buy a couple nice leather boards from Sanchez Leather a few years ago?  As I recall, they were fantastic (but expensive).  I also purchased a couple boards from Mario a few months ago.  I think they're one of the finest boards in leather I have seen.  I'll post some pictures if I get the time.  No need to buy any more boards!