18" Mark of Westminster Presidential Style Chess Board with 1 3/4" squares

The Presidential luxury chess boards by Mark of Westminster are premier, furniture quality, real-wood veneer inlays. This style, available only through the Mark of Westminster line, is a quarter inch thicker than most other chess boards. Most noticeable, the Presidential Series has black beveled edging that brings added elegance without appearing too busy. It also a unique mosaic that is not only stylish, but also brings in color that allows it to match well with virtually any chess set. These boards have felt-pad feet for protection of both the board and your own furniture. Less than 100 of these chess boards are produced each year, and each come with a certificate of authenticity with serial number.

Made in Spain

Mahogany and Maple Presidential Chess Board
Mahogany is a light reddish color wood, displaying a beautiful reddish sheen when polished. It is often sought after for its use in various furniture. The grain is reported to be interlocked, often irregular in direction, and sometimes very wild. Material containing wild grain is generally difficult to work to a smooth finish, so you will rarely see a dynamic graining in chessboards made with this wood. Due to considerable demand, many species are now protected.
Recommended Pairings: Ebonized, Cardinal Rosewood, Ebonywood, Crimson Rosewood

Walnut and Maple Presidential Chess Board
Walnut is a brown wood that is considered a staple for chess boards. The Mark of Westminster Walnut boards use European Walnut, which is not as dark as the black walnut seen in North America. The heartwood varies in color but it typically has a grayish-brown background with irregular dark streaks. The grain is normally straight, but may occasionally be wavy. European walnut has a high natural durabilty.
Recommended Pairings: Ebonized, Honey Rosewood, Cardinal Rosewood, Ebonywood, Crimson Rosewood

Wengue and Maple Presidential Chess Board
Wengue is the closest natural wood you will find to a true Ebony, although still more on the brown side. Pure black ebony is very difficult, if not impossible, to make into a veneer, so Wengue is commonly used to make a very dark chessboard. Wengue is a tropical wood from africa, with a heartwood that dark brown, nearly black, with fine, closely spaced, very dark veins and white lines. The combination of white bands against the dark wood with black streaks gives Wengue a very attractive appearance. The grain is fairly straight.
Recommended Pairings: Ebonized, Cardinal Rosewood, Ebonywood

Macassar and Maple Presidential Chess Board
Macassar is one of our more exotic woods, with a reddish milk-chocolate brown color and an excellent finish. The species is a member of the true Ebony genus. Macassar ebony is reported to be rare and is one of the most expensive timbers on the commercial market. The heartwood is black with wide reddish or reddish brown streaks. The combination of colors is reported to make the wood an attractive choice. The grain is typically straight rows.
Recommended Pairings: Ebonized, Cardinal Rosewood, Ebonywood, Crimson Rosewood

Ebano-Palisander and Maple Presidential Chess Board
Ebano-Palisander is also known as striped Ebony, and has strong black ebony stripes with brown Palisander stripes. The grain is extremely strong and irregular and is one of the most unique and exotic types of wood used for chess boards. It definitely stands out for any display, and compliments other medium to dark chess pieces well.
Recommended Pairings: Ebonized, Cardinal Rosewood, Ebonywood

Black Erable Presidential Chess Board
Ebonized Birds Eye Maple is for the individual looking for a pure black board. The dark squares are lacquered black with a matte finish, which has no grain whatsoever. Birds Eye Maple is known to have a number of knots and curls which can sometimes be seen in the light squares of these boards. The maple is a good complement to the boxwood used in chess pieces, so this board complements all types of woods, although particularly well with ebonized or ebony chess pieces.
Recommended Pairings: Ebonized, Ebonywood, Crimson Rosewood

Teak and Maple Presidential Chess Board
Teak is a light colored wood with a beautiful slight grain pattern. Most teak heartwood is highly variable in terms of its color and grain patterns. Mark of Westminster boards use a fine, straight-grained, light color Teak. These boards also are known to be highly durable and suitable for more exposed locations due to natural oils that protect it much like a varnish.
Recommended Pairings: Ebonized, Honey Rosewood, Ebonywood