The Anatomy of the Staunton Chess Pieces

We examine each chess piece and identify its unique qualities.

The fundamental characteristics of the Staunton chess set

1. The pieces are all clearly of the same family, yet their design makes it impossible to mistake one piece for another.
2. Wide base that allows large weights to be inserted so the balance is ideal for chess games. The pieces won’t topple or fall over easily.
3. The pieces have a high level of detail but very few fragile parts making them durable.
4. Ergonomic - each piece has a wide top (easy to pick up and put down).
5. Sweeping shank design.
6. Design cues taken from English architecture in the 1800s.
7. Design ideal for mass production using lathes – a common manufacturing method in the 1800s.

Further Resources

Read our chess rules to learn the rules of the game and learn how to set your pieces up on the board with our guide.