Official Staunton's Amazing 1849 Antique Lacquered and Ebony Chess Set

Hi Liml, 3 day delivery to US.  Delivery cost  to the US is 25 GBP.  Check with Official Staunton for delivery cost to Canada. Not sure if Canada has a customs tax.

Hey Mike!

Mistery solved then! http://www.wood-database.com/ceylon-ebony/

Indian Ebony with some brown grain. The curious in this story is that the most valued Ebony is pitch black. So assuming all the dark pieces have this grain they must have selected this "grained" Ebony which is usually unwanted and cheaper. Whether that choice was done on purpose, by accident or because of lack of funds it has turned out pretty well with the link to the old Black wood sets where you could see grain of the blackwood. They could have stained it black but decided to keep the grain in there so we can only assume they keeped this link to the past on purpose and the antique effect on the boxwood backs this up doesn't it. Like this they have made one of the best repros around not only because of the carving but with the wood choices and treatment.

Ebony is sometimes stained black on the finest musical instruments.Specifically the fingerboard and bridge.It is simply aesthetic.It has nothing to do with the quality of that particular lighter grained ebony and is not considered cheap....People like the black aspect,because it looks nice....I've got a very high end acoustic with a lighter/brownish fingerboard and the builder did it on purpose.

Btw,the majority of black ebony we usually see is in many instances stained black....Hope I'm not coming off as a know it all...Just trying to be helpful.

Just to not be misunderstood. The words i used "unwanted and cheaper" where absolutely not meant as harsh as they can be interpreted. I quote the wood database about this Ebony and this goes for most of the "overal black" Ebony woods:

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a jet black, sometimes with grey or dark brown streaks. Pale yellow sapwood is clearly demarcated from heartwood. Ironically, the very best quality ebony looks like black plastic. - http://www.wood-database.com/ceylon-ebony/

This is so with all the ebony wood the less grain it has the more expensive it is sold, usually when people look for grain they look for Blackwoods as in African Blackwood, Burmese Blackwood etc... My commentary was meant as a compliment and not as a Critique to OS for having chosen for the grained Ebony for this set and not stain it. Keep in mind this conversation started because we where just trying to determine which wood it actually was because "Macassar Ebony" did not match the pictures.

This calculator might help you.

https://www.crossbordershopping.ca/calculators/canadian-duty-calculator

ElC...I was not referring to anything specific by you.Just a random comment that I thought might be of interest in general.-

Thank you Magic! Nevertheless i saw how it could have been misunderstood.

Thanks gurpreetk! The custom tax does not look so bad.

Sheesh! I "so" want to hit the "buy" button on this set!! Thing is,I retired three weeks ago and it would be irresponsible...but...there is nothing like buying on emotion.

pure and nature ebony not treated best ebony natural wood

Thanks Mike-

OK,so I'm sitting here,on Christmas eve,while babysitting my 7 month old grandchild....I've got the family in a great mood and all is well in my world......I might be able to pull off a buy on this set,but after the eggnog wears off I may be in trouble.-

I've been relentlessly researching almost all of the available "high quality" Staunton repros(though I hope my CB 1849 version is held in somewhat high regard,as CB has been flamed quite a bit lately....Yet,they have been very nice to me and that set is quite lovely)....Still,this OS set seems to be a fantastic bargain at this "special price!! Mike knows his stuff and if he's that enthralled,it must be fantastic...Yes,I've looked at the HOS 1849 Limited edition,but I'd have to let go of a really nice guitar to afford it!....This OS set looks killer!!

 You are right, Mike (gkm) knows his stuff and his pics of this set are stunning.

Btw,I realize this thread is about that wonderful 1849 O.S. set,but as it turned out(since these postings  really got me enthused to have a set beyond my CB pieces) I just "did" order the O.S. 1851 Antique Ebony set.....The sale price was too good to pass up and it would be more of an easy sell to my "boss"....Mrs. Magictwanger......Thanks to all-

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

That is a very nice looking set.  With the sale, you are right, that is also a great price.  If I had not bought one of this type of reproduction sets from Carl 8 months ago, I would be jumping at the chance to get this one.