When you dare to mix art and chess, you get ‘Art Chess’.

As the late Danish chess champion, author and all round gentlemen, Bent Larsen once said, “Chess is a beautiful mistress”. He hadn’t even seen these beauties.

Purling London have taken the classic Staunton design to arty new levels with two themes: ‘Art Chess’ and ‘Dark Chess’. Individually hand-painted by a small selection of British artists, the designs are colourful, contemporary and the best looking chess pieces we’ve ever seen. Inspired by the Art Of Chess exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery last year, Purling founder Simon Purkis explains, “I wanted to challenge art lovers and captivate chess fanatics”. We think he’s done a fine job and are particularly fond of Olivia Pilling’s eye-catching design.