Stained ebony vs unstained ebony

Most ebony pieces sold by The Chess Empire are stained, though they sell at least one set unstained, what they call "stripped" ebony. Golden Signature However, you can order unstained ebony. I just received TCE's Collector II Series in "stripped" ebony per my request. It is uniform in dark color, so much so that I at first thought it might be stained. A close inspection under good light, however, reveals the natural wood's grain and some brown/red tint in places. The set itself is lovely and beautifully made.

I love the set. The pieces seem almost delicately carved. They are medium weight and fit my hand well. I especially love the knight, which is simply elegant.

Could the experts identify if this set is genuine ebony, ebonized or stained?

Or plastic? No offence, but impossible to tell from that pic.

New try…

I just re-read much of this thread and it’s all very interesting … as indeed, is the way may feelings ebb and flow (but my chess rating is rather slow to grow… sorry segued into a rhyme🤦‍♂️😆)…

…anyway it’s so hard to know - here’s one of my favourite sets … as best as I can ascertain, these pieces are around 30-40 years old and the original owner purchased them in New York. I think they are ebony (or perhaps I just want to believe they are ebony)- from a distance they are black, upon careful inspection there’s beautiful and subtle variation. Whatever the wood, it is very dense … my guess - and that is all it is - is that ferespan’s is ebony too.

Finally, I am a bit frustrated at myself … I recently purchased a new ebony set … a reproduction … to which I stated earlier in this thread I wouldn’t … then changed my mind … 😉… my frustration is that I didn’t ask the seller whether it was stained ebony - my sense is it will be but alas, I didn’t ask. I should have but in the end, it was the design I fell in love with … so I wanted it nonetheless - stained or unstained - … I just should have asked though. 🤦‍♂️

Whatever material of, when or where those pieces were made nor how much moolah they are worth they are exquisite. Enjoy them!

I especially likre the French Lily on the King. The same as on my favourite (plastic fantastic multicolour) Polish set.

Ebony like Mahogany is a surprisingly fuzzy and ill-defined term that can be subject to controversy. While generally no longer considered "Ebony" African Blackwood, AKA Mpingo, AKA Dalbergia melanoxylon, was most likely the original "Ebony" and prized by the ancient Egyptians. Mpingo/Blackwood is extremely dark and it is denser, heavier and harder than any of the other Ebonies being discussed here. It is so hard you can polish it to a high gloss without any type of finish. I have a statue and a jar with a lid that I bought in Mozambique that I know is real because I watched the carver making his products from the cut pieces. I have always wanted to commission a chess set in this wood but have never tried as the wood is so hard most wood workers don't have the tools or the proper familiarity to work with it. Beautiful wood and it feels like lead. Blackwood/Mpingo chess pieces would definitely not require additional weighting.