Hand-Carved Wooden Chess Set Commission
Employer
Serhiy
Project parameters
Type of cooperationOne-time project
SectionAdvertising and marketing
Prepaymentwithout prepayment
Payment methodsCash, Bank transfer
Acceptance of requestsfrom yesterday, 22:42 until Sep 27, 2026
Project description
I have wanted a proper hand-carved chess set for years, and I have finally decided to commission one instead of buying something mass-produced. What I am after is a full 32-piece set carved by hand, not turned on a lathe and not cast from resin — I want to see tool marks and character in the wood, the kind of set that looks like a real person spent real hours on it. I am open to walnut, maple, oak, or a contrasting pair like walnut and maple for the two sides, and I would like your recommendation based on what carves well and photographs nicely, since the set will also sit out as a display piece between games.
Style-wise I am leaning toward a classic Staunton silhouette but with more expressive detail than the usual factory version — knights with real manes and faces, bishops with a proper mitre, a king and queen that feel weighty and finished on every side, not just the front. That said, I am genuinely curious what a themed or semi-abstract interpretation would look like if that is more your strength, so feel free to pitch your own take with a sketch or reference photos of past work. The board matters as much as the pieces to me — I would like an inlaid or checkered wooden board, roughly 18 to 20 inches square, with felt on the underside and squares sized to comfortably fit the king.
On practicalities: pieces should be weighted or felted on the base so they do not slide or tip, the king should be a sensible height for a set this size, and I would appreciate a light protective finish rather than heavy gloss lacquer. My budget for the whole commission, pieces and board together, is meant to be fair for the hours involved — I am not shopping for the cheapest quote, I am shopping for someone who actually enjoys this craft and can show me a portfolio of comparable work. Please share photos or video of chess sets or similarly detailed carving you have done before, a rough timeline, and how you typically structure milestones and payments for a commission like this. I am flexible on exact wood species and final design details as long as we land on something we are both proud of, and I am happy to have a short call to talk through proportions and finish options before you start cutting.
Style-wise I am leaning toward a classic Staunton silhouette but with more expressive detail than the usual factory version — knights with real manes and faces, bishops with a proper mitre, a king and queen that feel weighty and finished on every side, not just the front. That said, I am genuinely curious what a themed or semi-abstract interpretation would look like if that is more your strength, so feel free to pitch your own take with a sketch or reference photos of past work. The board matters as much as the pieces to me — I would like an inlaid or checkered wooden board, roughly 18 to 20 inches square, with felt on the underside and squares sized to comfortably fit the king.
On practicalities: pieces should be weighted or felted on the base so they do not slide or tip, the king should be a sensible height for a set this size, and I would appreciate a light protective finish rather than heavy gloss lacquer. My budget for the whole commission, pieces and board together, is meant to be fair for the hours involved — I am not shopping for the cheapest quote, I am shopping for someone who actually enjoys this craft and can show me a portfolio of comparable work. Please share photos or video of chess sets or similarly detailed carving you have done before, a rough timeline, and how you typically structure milestones and payments for a commission like this. I am flexible on exact wood species and final design details as long as we land on something we are both proud of, and I am happy to have a short call to talk through proportions and finish options before you start cutting.
