The British Chess Company Imperial Luxury Chess Pieces - 4.4" King - From the Camaratta Collection

A Masterful Reproduction of the Boldest Interpretation of the Staunton Ideal

The House of Staunton is proud to present The British Chess Company Imperial Luxury Chess Pieces, an extraordinary and historically significant reproduction of the iconic Imperial Chessmen introduced by the British Chess Company in 1891. Expertly crafted from the finest Boxwood and Ebony, these magnificent Chessmen are heavily weighted and rest upon plush green billiard cloth base pads for exceptional stability and performance. The commanding King stands 4-3/8" tall with a 1-7/8" diameter base and is crowned with a luxurious gold-embossed Black English leather pad - a distinguished hallmark befitting a design of such rarity and prestige.

These Chessmen represent an exacting recreation executed by Frank Camaratta, meticulously replicating the bold artistic philosophy championed by William Moffatt, founder of the British Chess Company. In his quest to introduce a distinctive alternative to the traditional Staunton pattern, Moffatt envisioned a set where the physical size of each piece reflected its relative power on the board. Thus, the Rooks are intentionally larger and more massive than the Knights or Bishops, which share an equivalent visual weight - a striking and purposeful deviation from the classic Staunton proportions.

In keeping with this visionary design, the weighting has also been faithfully reproduced: the Rooks are heaviest, while the Knight and Bishop retain identical weight, delivering an unmistakably authoritative presence during practical play. This luxurious set also includes an extra pair of Queens to facilitate smooth and elegant Pawn promotion.

Some Background

The British Chess Company (BCC) was founded in 1891 by William Moffatt (1843–1918) and William Hughes, and quickly positioned itself as a respectable challenger to Jaques of London in the high-end chess market. Although smaller in scale, BCC remained a notable competitor until its apparent dissolution around 1907. The design reproduced here was originally released as the Royal Chessmen before later being renamed the British Chess Company Improved Staunton Chess Pieces.

Moffatt sought to distinguish his creations from the already dominant Jaques Staunton sets by reinforcing Pawn collars and reimagining the form of the Knight - a feature that became a signature of his designs. One of his most unique contributions to the evolution of chess craftsmanship was his innovative use of Xylonite, a pioneering thermoplastic created from nitrocellulose and camphor. By molding the Knight heads from this material, Moffatt dramatically reduced production costs - an impressive solution considering that Knight carving typically accounts for nearly half the total manufacturing expense of a fine chess set. This breakthrough allowed BCC to offer high-quality chessmen at a fraction of the cost of their competitors.

Although some sources claim BCC ceased producing their own chessmen by 1903, substantial evidence indicates that the company continued offering sets through at least 1907, maintaining its place - however modest - within the competitive chess landscape of late Victorian and Edwardian Britain.

A Legacy of Excellence

Today, The House of Staunton name is recognized worldwide as synonymous with uncompromising quality, masterful craftsmanship, and exquisite design. The British Chess Company Imperial Luxury Chess Pieces embody these values in every respect - a perfect gift for the man or woman who has everything, and a remarkable tribute to one of the most distinctive reinterpretations of the Staunton tradition ever conceived.