Review: Sunrise Chessboard with Manopoulos Staunton Pieces from Farrar & Tanner*

[Ad-gifted] We were recently contacted by Farrar &  Tanner,  who specialise in luxury bespoke gifts to review their Sunrise Games Walnut Chessboard with Manopoulos Highgrove Ebonised Staunton Chess Pieces which came beautifully presented in a wooden gift box.

This was indeed a stunning gift set (items to be purchased separately) to receive or to give someone special in your life especially if they love playing Chess.    As we are gearing up to Christmas, with only about 9 weeks to go before the big day (yes we have stated out countdown!) we are sharing lovely present ideas to help make your gift buying a lot less stressful. Keep on reading to find out more about this chess set.

Sunrise Games Walnut Chessboard – Large

The Sunrise Games Chessboard (this is the large size) with a dimension of 49cm x 49cm has been crafted with care from walnut wood.  The board which is hand-made is solid and has a lovely smooth finish to it. The shade of walnut wood colour stands out and would look stunning as a centrepiece in any living room.  The board comes with a square size of 50cm x 5cm and is designed to suit medium chess pieces with a king height of 9 cm.

The smooth finish is a delight to play on and is beautiful when left on display.  You have the option to add an engraved message to a brass plate to make the gift even more personalised and special.

Manopoulos Highgrove Ebonised Staunton Chess Pieces in Presentation Box

The Manopoulos Highgrove Ebonised hand-carved Staunton pieces arrived beautifully sealed in an elegant wooden gift box.  Designed in the traditional Staunton style, these hornbeam chess pieces have been hand-carved from boxwood to bring you a classic set which can be paired with a number of board styles. The detailed pieces are full of character and are a delight to use. The weighted bases are felted which glide across boards and do not leave marks behind.

Ideal for use with a No.5 board this set will make a treasured gift.  Presented in a wood presentation box each piece can be safely stored after you are finished playing your game.  A personalised engraved message can be added to the top of the gift box to make the gift even more special. As a guide, the dimension for the height of the King is 8cm while the diameter is 3.7cm

What did we think of the Sunrise Chessboard?

This is a beautiful and thoughtful present to give a close friend or family member who loves playing chess. The handcrafted Manopoulos Staunton Chess Pieces came in a stunning wooden presentation box.  Each piece was large, easy to hold and you could tell, was high quality. The Sunrise Games Walnut Chessboard was solid and together with the pieces made it a stunning chessboard set. To be honest, the board looked so much better in real life compared to what we saw on the website as we could not gauge its quality.  We ordered the large board for this set of chess pieces to complement the large chess pieces. If you get a smaller board the pieces would look strange.  Both my husband and son enjoyed playing with this chess set. I love how board games such as this promotes quality family time together.

We also had the option to add a personalised engraving on the chess box/chessboard (this would be perfect if you are giving this to someone as a gift) as Farrar & Tanner has in house, state-of-the-art engraving and leather embossing machinery, operated by skilled staff.  You, of course,  will be able to select the position of the engraving, the font and your message.

We find that playing traditional and classic board games is still the perfect activity to bring a family together no matter if they are young or old.  Spending quality time with the family is so important and moments like this needs to be cherished.

How much did it cost and how can I purchase them?

The Manopoulos Highgrove Ebonised Staunton Chess Pieces in Presentation Box costs £110 and it can be purchased from Farrar & Tanner here while the Sunrise Games Walnut Chessboard – Large costs £45 and can be purchased here.

About Sunrise Chess Game

Established in 1996 in Poland, Sunrise Chess and Games produce hand-made wooden games including chess, backgammon and checkers. Skilled craftsmen use care and attention to create sets from carefully selected wood by employing techniques such as carving, burning and inlaying. It takes a minimum of 10 people to craft a Sunrise Chess and Games set and their dedication guarantees you a set that will be cherished.

About Manopoulos

Born out of appreciation for the joy games can bring, Manopoulos are renowned creators of classic board game sets. The Greek company craft exceptional backgammon and chess sets with inspired detail from natural materials. Today, Manopoulos is a name synonymous with wonderful, classic craftsmanship.

About Farrar & Tanner

Farrar & Tanner specialises in luxury bespoke gifts, with a focus on delivering high-quality gifts designed and crafted to last a lifetime. They source a premium range from the most esteemed companies around Britain and the rest of the world to provide a lavish, diverse collection.  From their central Cheltenham location, their skilled team of on-site craftsmen deliver a finely engraved or embossed product finished to your specifications for an unforgettable experience.

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*We were sent the chess set in return for a review. All opinions are our own.