Birdseye maple has a medium density and variable color, making it an attractive wood for use in chess sets. The outer rings of the tree create lumber that's usually a creamy, light amber color with...

Boxwood is a versatile evergreen with a broad range of forms and sizes, and it's an excellent wood for chess set components. The origin of boxwood dates back to...

Bubinga, also known as kevazingo, is a species of the genus Guibourtia. Bubinga and numerous other species of Guibourtia are found in Equatorial Africa, from Southeast Nigeria through...

A burl, or in British known as a burr, is a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch that is filled with small knots from dormant buds. Burls are the product of...

Ebony, also known as India Ebony or Ceylon Ebony depending on its origin, is a tree in the genus Diospyros, native to southern India and Sri Lanka. It is noted for its heavy...

Madrona, also known as Arbutus, is a genus of at least 14 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, and is native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, western Europe, and...

Mahogany has a generally straight grain and is usually free of voids and pockets. It has a reddish brown color which darkens over time, and displays a beautiful...

Maples are mostly trees growing to 10-40 meters (30-130 ft) in height. Others are shrubs less than 10 meters tall with a number of small trunks originating at ground level. Most species are deciduous, but a few in southern Asia and the Mediterranean region are evergreen. Some of the larger maple species have valuable...

Rosewood refers to a number of richly hued timbers, brownish with darker veining. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for flooring, furniture, turnery, musical instruments, and wooden chess pieces. Because of its density and strong...

The Persian Walnut, the Black Walnut and its allies, are important for their attractive timber, which (except in young trees) is hard, dense, tight-grained and polishes to a very smooth finish. The color ranges from creamy white in the sapwood to a dark...