Carved Wooden Chess Pieces from the Alps
Our carved wooden chess pieces are handmade in the Val Gardena valley (South Tyrol), following a centuries-old craft tradition. Lime, Swiss pine and maple are knife-carved to create expressive, one-of-a-kind figures.
Chess Pieces
Price range: 2,083.20€ through 2,648.40€
Price range: 2,052.00€ through 2,787.60€
Chess Pieces
Price range: 1,977.60€ through 2,640.00€
Price range: 1,688.40€ through 2,157.60€
Price range: 1,254.00€ through 1,662.00€
Price range: 2,115.60€ through 2,890.80€
Chess Pieces
Etruscan Chess Set Natural Alpine Wood Traditionally Hand-Carved – Contact Us to Check Availability
Price range: 902.40€ through 1,348.80€
Price range: 1,012.80€ through 1,549.20€
Chess Pieces
Price range: 949.20€ through 1,430.40€
Price range: 2,673.60€ through 3,340.80€
Price range: 1,327.20€ through 1,718.40€
Price range: 949.20€ through 1,431.60€
Chess Pieces
Price range: 2,050.80€ through 2,786.40€
Price range: 1,230.00€ through 1,827.60€
Price range: 2,439.60€ through 3,301.20€
Price range: 1,297.20€ through 1,926.00€
Price range: 2,439.60€ through 3,301.20€
The Art of Alpine Carving
Chess pieces hand-carved in the Val Gardena tradition
Our Alpine wooden chess pieces are hand-carved in the Val Gardena valley (South Tyrol), the birthplace of a craft tradition dating back to the seventeenth century. Each carved wooden chess set is a unique piece of work: the artisans of Ortisei carve lime, Swiss pine and maple to bring expressive characters to life, from armoured knights to mitred bishops.
What makes these pieces exceptional
✍ Hand carving
Each piece is individually carved with a knife and gouge by artisans from Val Gardena. No two pieces are identical: faces, postures and details vary subtly from one set to the next, guaranteeing the uniqueness of every chess set.
🌳 Alpine wood
Lime wood (ideal for fine carving), Swiss pine (an aromatic wood from the Dolomites) and maple. These Alpine timbers offer a fine grain, a smooth touch and a warm colour that deepens with time.
🎨 Figurative style
Unlike the abstract Staunton style, Alpine pieces depict characters: a crowned king, a robed queen, a mounted knight, a hooded bishop. A narrative style that appeals to collectors and lovers of fine pieces.
🎁 Collecting & Gifting
A carved wooden chess set from Val Gardena makes a fine piece of craftsmanship as a gift: certified handmade, it combines Alpine tradition with centuries-old skill. As much a collector's piece as a playable set.
Expert tip: Alpine wooden pieces are available in natural finish (light/dark wood) or hand-painted. The natural versions reveal the beauty of the wood grain; the painted versions offer striking realism with flesh, red, blue and gold tones.
Pair your Alpine pieces
Val Gardena pieces work beautifully with a contrasting fine wooden chess board, or with a storage box to protect them. For a more classic Staunton style, see our fine wooden chess pieces. For other carved pieces, discover our painted resin figures or our historically themed sets.
