Dal Rossi Italy Folding Chess Set, Walnut Shiny Finish 16"

Sixteen inches of walnut with a gloss on it, which is either exactly your thing or absolutely not.

The same 16 inch folding format as the rest of Dal Rossi's larger sets, finished in high-gloss walnut rather than the usual satin. The lacquer brings the grain up hard and gives the whole board a depth under lamplight that a matt finish never manages — it's the set that photographs best and the one most likely to be commented on.

Practically, the gloss has one real advantage: pieces slide across it cleanly, so moving a rook the length of the board doesn't involve lifting and placing. It shows fingerprints, which is the trade-off, and it's a set that rewards a cloth kept nearby. Standard pieces store inside the folded board, hinged and latched in the usual way.

Perfect for: Display as much as play, and anyone whose chess set is going to be looked at more often than it's used.

2 players | 16" folding board, high-gloss walnut | Standard pieces, stored inside