Huge chess pieces made of natural wood for the garden - Giant Chess

Extra-large Giant Scacci chess pieces are handcrafted from Teak wood.

The oldest surviving chess pieces originate from the Persian-Arabic cultural area. They were often made from clay, bone, ivory, or even Kashmir crystal. Today, knowledge about the significance of these mysteriously designed artifacts is not very widespread. These abstract chess figures arrived in Europe in the 10th century and were used there for about 800 years. The mystical magic of these figures was also felt in medieval Europe. This explains the discovery of several abstract game elements that were found to protect buildings surrounded by a foundation wall.

The precursors of modern chess likely stem from cultural contact between India and China. In the 15th century, there was a major reform of the game’s rules. In subsequent centuries, especially European chess masters contributed to the study of the game. The history of contemporary chess tournaments begins with the London tournament in 1851. The rivalry between Steinitz and Zukertort in 1886 is considered the first World Chess Championship. The oldest European text containing the rules of chess is a rhyme written in Hebrew by the Jewish Spanish poet-philosopher Abraham ibn Ezra (1089-1164). By the late 15th century, modern chess rules were established: pawns could move two squares on their first move, bishops could move diagonally as far as they wanted (before jumping exactly two squares), and the queen could move in all eight directions as far as she wanted (before only one square diagonally), thus transforming from the weakest to the most powerful piece on the board.

In 1616, the first chess manual in German was published: “Das Schach- oder König-Spiel” by Gustavus Selenus. In 1927, the first Chess Olympiad was held in London. After Alekhine’s death in 1946, the World Chess Federation FIDE (founded in 1924 in Paris by FIDE) took over the organization of the World Chess Championships.

Like all wood, teak is a “living” material. Over time, cracks may appear, making these pieces look more unique. Teak is one of the most weather-resistant woods and is mainly used in shipbuilding. Wooden chess pieces made from teak are easy to maintain. Simply clean them occasionally from dust or rain spots with a damp cloth. Since wood is a “living” material, slight changes may occur over time. Cracks can develop due to the ongoing movement of the wood. Nevertheless, wood is a very warm and beautiful material, unlike plastic, which tends to be cold. In the case of teak wood, with its characteristic grain and unique coloration, these features are even more noticeable. In fact, changes in the wood make each piece or any carpentry element even more interesting and one-of-a-kind.

Note: these chess figures should not be regarded merely as game pieces; they should also be appreciated as wooden art. This means they are not suitable for children and should not be dropped or knocked over, as this could cause dents or damage to the elements.

In short: you certainly don’t need to wear gloves when touching these figures, but they should be handled with care. Given that teak wood is highly resistant to weather conditions (teak is mainly used in the shipbuilding industry), it is still very advisable to cover the figures or store them indoors when not in use or in very harsh weather conditions. This also applies to many other materials, such as plastics.