Walnut Burl and Maple Chess Set with Drawers
Features / Description
Walnut burl is not manufactured, it is found. It is the part of the trunk where the fibres curl in on themselves and draw thick, moving veins that the varnish brings out. Every board is therefore unique: yours will never have exactly the same figure as another.
The light squares are maple, cut sharply against the deep brown of the walnut and ringed by a fine marquetry inlay. At the four corners, carved bronze-finish columns support the board and give the whole thing the line of an antique piece of furniture, without ever tipping into pastiche.
The pieces are zinc alloy, heavy in the hand, with an aged copper and silver finish built up through successive polishing. They do not shine: they have that matte patina that catches light instead of throwing it back. Each one is felted underneath, to glide without marking the wood.
And when the game is over, everything goes back in. Two drawers, one per side, with a moulded slot for every piece. Pull the brass knob, put the pieces away, close it up. Nothing rolls, nothing goes missing.
Specifications
Board :
Dimensions : 32 × 32 × 6.2 cm (12.6 × 12.6 × 2.4 in)
Materials : Walnut burl, maple, solid New Zealand pine, MDF
Squares : 3.2 × 3.2 cm (1.3 × 1.3 in)
Weight : 3.5 kg
Pieces :
Material : Zinc alloy, aged copper and silver finish
Base : Felted, glides without marking the board
Pieces included : 32
Piece height :
King : 6.2 cm — 2.3 cm diameter
Queen : 5.2 cm — 2.3 cm diameter
Bishop : 4.9 cm — 2.0 cm diameter
Knight : 4.5 cm — 2.0 cm diameter
Rook : 4.1 cm — 2.0 cm diameter
Pawn : 3.3 cm — 1.7 cm diameter
Storage & craftsmanship :
Storage : 2 built-in drawers with individual slots
Opening : Gold metal studs, rosette motif
Finishes : Carved corner columns, marquetry inlay border
Use : Indoors — living room, study, library
What's in the box
1x Game board
1x Set of chess pieces
1x Spare queens
1x Storage
Care instructions
- Board: dust with a soft dry cloth. Apply a natural oil or wax once or twice a year to feed the grain and keep the figuring rich
- Pieces: wipe with a slightly damp cloth. Avoid any abrasive product, which would dull the aged patina
- Keep away from direct moisture and prolonged heat
Shipping and returns
Standard shipping
-Free on every order
-Estimated delivery: 6 to 12 business days
-Dispatched within 1 to 2 business days of your order
Returns
-Returns accepted within 30 days of delivery
-Item must be returned in its original condition
Choose options
Le cadeau qu'on n'oublie pas
Offrez quelque chose qui reste
Most gifts are forgotten. The perfume worn once. The candle burned down. The book never opened.
A Wood & Wit set is different. It earns its place in the living room. It becomes a talking point. It starts games that run for hours. It carries through the years without losing an ounce of character.
That is what a real gift is. Not something you give. Something you pass on.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you want to know about our chess sets
No, as long as you avoid prolonged exposure to moisture or direct sunlight, just like any quality solid wood object. A simple wood-oil treatment once a year is enough to keep it flawless for decades.
Yes. Every Wood & Wit set ships complete with all 32 pieces, two spare queens for pawn promotion, and a case or storage bag depending on the model. Nothing missing, nothing loose.
Absolutely. Learning on a proper set changes everything. The squares are clearly contrasted, the pieces are stable and satisfying to handle, and the standard format trains your eye on the right proportions from day one. Our models suit complete beginners and experienced players alike.
It is one of the main reasons our customers buy. A Wood & Wit set on a coffee table or a desk draws the eye, starts conversations and gives a room character. Plenty of our customers never play, they simply wanted a beautiful object.
Three essentials, too often overlooked elsewhere:
- Piece weight: a weighted piece lands with precision. It does not slide, it does not topple, every move feels controlled.
- Board contrast: clearly defined squares and honest wood tones, so you read the position instantly, without effort.
- Board stability: solid wood that does not rattle, does not warp and stays perfectly still for the whole game.
On those three points, Wood & Wit makes no compromise.
It is not a comeback, it is an explosion. Since The Queen's Gambit landed on Netflix, Chess.com has gone from 1 million to more than 100 million users.
Chess content goes viral on TikTok and YouTube. Tournaments attract sponsors like Google.
Chess is becoming the thinking person's sport, and owning a beautiful physical set at home is once again a mark of culture and taste.
Yes. It is elegant, built to last and genuinely used. Ideal for beginners, chess lovers and collectors alike.