Gran Sasso Chessboard
One of a kind · Price on request
A chessboard conceived as a mountain: press the summit and the board rises, ready for play; press again and it withdraws, quietly locked away.
The work
This piece was conceived as a mountain: a rugged, faceted form that holds the game within, its summit traced with hand-inlaid coordinates. A gentle press and the board ascends, ready for play. Press again, and it withdraws into the mountain. Integrated drawers keep every piece in its place.
Materials and making
The base is clad in Vavona burl, the burl of the redwood, with a swirling, fiery figure that no two pieces share. Bog oak and figured maple complete the board, all veneered by hand. A mechanical lifting system raises and lowers the playing surface. It comes with a professional, weighted Staunton set in boxwood, king at 10.4 cm.
