Playing with figurines
In a themed set, each piece keeps its role but changes its look: the king becomes an emperor, the knight a mounted warrior, the pawns foot soldiers. These sets stand out on a shelf and are very popular with children and history lovers alike. They just take a little getting used to before you recognise each piece.
What the collection offers
- Hand-painted resin pieces, 22 themes: medieval knights, samurai, Robin Hood, crusaders… King of 7.5 to 9 cm, about 1 kg per set. A 33 cm faux leather board is available separately.
- Chinese soldiers set in resin: figurines of about 3.5 cm on a 28 cm faux leather board.
- Red lacquered Chinese set with drawer: resin warriors on a 26 cm board.
Using them well
Painted resin doesn't like knocks: store the pieces in their box and avoid frantic blitz games. For everyday play, keep a classic Staunton set, which is easier to read, and bring out the themed set for special occasions. See also our decorative chess sets and our Staunton pieces.
Recognising the pieces in a themed set
In most themed sets, the king is still the tallest piece and the queen the second tallest. Knights often keep a horse, rooks a building or chariot shape. Before your first game, line the pieces up by size next to the board: within a few minutes, every figurine has found its role.