Ebony will be next. There is only one legal source of Ebony on the planet because of over harvest and the stupidity of only using the pure black wood. Tons of ebony was cut down and just left on the forest floor because only the blackest would do. Well, those days are over. We better get used to the fact that a lot of the woods that were once abundant are no longer available. So other wood will be replacing our favorites. Or synthetics will have to do the job...
I think this now adds a new wrinkle to the scene. With computer lathes now abundant, we very well might see the manufacturing leave India. Sure there is the art of carving the Knights. But surely there are people that can learn and gain the skill no matter where they are in the world.
If we see synthetics taking over, China is a very possible source of production. Look at how we now see most of the plastic Chess pieces and vinyl boards coming from there.
If we go back to using woods like Mahogany, Walnut, Maple and other native woods of the area, we might very well see at least one quality and volume manufacturer in North America.
And China, Europe and other parts of the world have their own indigenous woods that might provide the next best wood or woods for our pieces.
We do not see Rosewood historically being that prevalent in Chess pieces until India became the highest volume Chess set producer.
Because of these new bans, the Chess manufacturing industry is kind of forced to change and modify its wood standards and what it has considered traditional.
Take a moment to consider the woods used in sets before the 1980's or 1990's. We see Ebony as the preeminent dark wood used, not Rosewood or any Rosewood variation.
Yes, companies like The House of Staunton, Official Staunton Company, The Chess Store and a host of others that have sold mostly Rosewood type products will need to step out of their comfort zones to find alternatives. However, I do expect these alternatives to be found.
I'm sorry to sound mellow-dramatic, but this is a disaster of semi-epic proportions for my to-be-launched company. =\
I've already paid my lathing partner to produce each of 4 sample pieces in a list of heavy woods, including East Indian Rosewood and Sheesham; he told me just two weeks ago that, now, he's required to obtain a permit each and every time he produces pieces in these two woods; with half a chance of failure in permittance.
Really, I'm trying to start my company here, and this happens. First, European Hornbeam was gone. Now, this.
I told him, I will have to revise my commission: instead of producing 4 Knight samples in a list of woods, it will have to be to produce all pieces of the 4 sets in just Boxwood. Since, I don't know what woods are commercially available in his country that are hard enough to be chess pieces. The only two on that list are "Blood Rosewood" (Padauk) and Ebony; both of which aren't even native to his country, and one of which is already pretty restricted.
I feel your pain.
What country is he in, India?
If he was in the U.S or Europe, Walnut would work for the dark pieces. Look at the Noj sets which all use Europen Walnut for their dark pieces or dyed European Maple.
And then there is the option of dying the pieces. Look at The House of Staunton with their newly produced gilded pieces. All that is is dyed pieces, seriously.
Look at the original set that Bobby Fischer used from Slovenia. The dark pieces were dyed Brown.
So, perhaps you should look at having your dark pieces dyed Boxwood, especially if your carver is from India. After your company is going the industry will have found woods for the carvers from India to use. You can then have your pieces produced in these newly found woods.
Can't they just make them out of any hardwood and just stain one a certain color?
At one time, only solid black ebony was acceptable for use in stringed instruments. However this practice led to wasting over 90% of the harvested trees that didn't meet this criteria. They were simply left where they were felled because their resale value didn't cover the cost of transporting them to market. Thanks to Taylor Guitars, now all the ebony is used, regardless of clarity, and people are beginning to accept, and in some cases, even prefer the change.
If the chess industry has to fall back on the tried-and-true boxwood tree, I believe the they can rise to the occasion. Just look at the improvements that have been made with the antiquing of boxwood pieces. Back in 2013 I bought an antiqued set from HoS ($900 list) where the pieces looked more like pecan than an aged boxwood. Since then the process has markedly improved. I'm thoroughly happy with my Official Staunton Piatigorsky set where the dark pieces are mahogany stained boxwood. It may take them time to adapt, experimenting with different stains and methods of application, but eventually they'll get the process down. The sets will look great, and we'll learn to accept the best of what's available and stop pining for specialty woods that are no longer available.
Growing up, I always wanted an ivory chess set. When I was younger I couldn't afford one. When I could, they weren't available. Eventually, I learned to stop lusting after what was no longer available and appreciate the sets that were.
I appreciate the suggestion. On the other hand, dyeing wood is a pretty cheap option, one which "genuine chess set" hunters may not always appreciate. My company reputes itself for its natural wood; otherwise, people might simply not take me seriously for a LUXURY chess company.
Also, English Walnut I don't think is available in his country, unless it's imported into there.
I appreciate the suggestion. On the other hand, dyeing wood is a pretty cheap option, one which "genuine chess set" hunters may not always appreciate. My company reputes itself for its natural wood; otherwise, people might simply not take me seriously for a LUXURY chess company.
Also, English Walnut I don't think is available in his country, unless it's imported into there.
So it all comes down to impressing rich people with how swanky the chess set is because it's made from endangered trees. I guess if you're sitting on leopardskin upholstery you may as well be playing with endangered species pieces. How about ivory for the white side?
I am all for following the rules, and protecting endangered species. I do have a problem with paying a premium price for a quoted product and getting something else. Is it acceptable to buy ebony and get dyed boxwood? Some of us just take joy in collecting and knowing things. I have many fine things made from exotic woods. I enjoy this. I just bought a set from hos. Is it golden rosewood? I guess Ill never really know.
@drspudnik...You can get ivory. It must be antique or made from mammoth ivory. It costs a ton.
I appreciate the suggestion. On the other hand, dyeing wood is a pretty cheap option, one which "genuine chess set" hunters may not always appreciate. My company reputes itself for its natural wood; otherwise, people might simply not take me seriously for a LUXURY chess company.
Also, English Walnut I don't think is available in his country, unless it's imported into there.
So it all comes down to impressing rich people with how swanky the chess set is because it's made from endangered trees. I guess if you're sitting on leopardskin upholstery you may as well be playing with endangered species pieces. How about ivory for the white side?
Sorry, DrSpudnik, but, with due respect, punching a scarecrow is merely fun, not credible.
"Rich people" aren't the only ones who enjoy a genuine chess set made of exotic woods. Secondly, I neither ever claimed that I was any less concerned for endangered species, nor did I claim that the only exotic woods available are endangered species. (Simply that English Walnut isn't native to his country.) Lastly, I never made exotic woods the primary spotlight; I said "natural' woods, which may include a broad range of any beautiful woods.
You really haven't said very much to refute my argument; and explain why dyeing cheap woods be a decent alternative.
Well, if you want to get your business going I suggest you consider using dyed woods to begin with. After the market finds suitable natural woods that are available in India you can then have the pieces made in those woods.
There are people in India that make their living carving and making Chess pieces. For their business to survive they will need to find natural woods to make the pieces.
That's exactly what I told him (my manufacturing partner): there should be many other dense woods (Janka Hardness: 1570+ lbf) available. He's never actually been clear as to why he couldn't locate those woods. In all the list of other woods available besides Boxwood, Padauk, Ebony, East Indian Rosewood and Sheesham, he lists one other wood, which is "too soft for Chess pieces"; which I don't believe, since there is more than just 5 species of woods available to him: Sheesham, East Indian and this "wood that is too soft for chess pieces" (whatever it is).
I'm guessing he's just too lazy to find out other domestic woods from his country; until I visit him on an international trip and find out for him.
Dyeing/staining, in actuality, is an option that I have considered....for my economic sets. It will be a pleasant feature that I'm sure instant chess buyers would love; after all, who wouldn't want pieces in Navey Blue, Crimson Red, Tangerine Red-Orange, Ivory White, Forest-Green, and the list goes on? For my expensive designs, though? Probably not so much my first option. Maybe. But, not too likely.
Why does the wood have to be indigenous to the makers country? Import the wood to India and be done with it... It may cost slightly more but I wouldn't think having wood shipped there would be too cost prohibitive. Not nearly as costly as all the paperwork and trouble of using restricted wood. Guitar and furniture makers import wood all the time.... Now that rosewood in all of its forms is out they will switch to some other suitable wood be it indigenous or imported. They imported rosewood now they will likely import some other wood. Part of doing business.
Why does the wood have to be indigenous to the makers country? Import the wood to India and be done with it... It may cost slightly more but I wouldn't think having wood shipped there would be too cost prohibitive. Not nearly as costly as all the paperwork and trouble of using restricted wood. Guitar and furniture makers import wood all the time.... Now that rosewood in all of its forms is out they will switch to some other suitable wood be it indigenous or imported. They imported rosewood now they will likely import some other wood. Part of doing business.
Ah, but there's the rub. The Chess manufacturers in India have been notoriously inexpensive to very cheap. For instance look at some of the lower priced sets from Chess Bazaar or The House of Chess.
These carvers from India have used the indigenous woods because of availability and no cost for importing the wood.
There was a time when quality wood Chess sets were not made in India. Notice that Rosewood and other Indian woods were not used in Chess sets. Ebony or dyed/stained woods were the primary woods you will find. When the India carvers started they were cheap and used local woods which were also cheap.
Notice that the original Steiner set used in the Piatigorsky Cup was made of United States local woods. Other sets like the Lardy and Chavet also were made of European native woods, not Rosewood.
If the Indian carvers and manufacturers do not find other woods to use in their work, they will have no work and go out of business. Importing wood will definitely add quite a percentage to the price.
Perhaps we might see a different part of the world take on the majority of Chess piece carving and production where they use woods that are more available to them.
AT this point, the current inventory needs to be run out. After this, we will see just how and what these manufacturers come up with.
all I can say is Wow. have you even TRIED to look for chess pieces carved OUTSIDE of india. I did!
very unconvinced that people in other places in the world possess the skills to start turning out stauton quality peices.
my guess is that this will basically just increase the price of chess pieces.
no more $100 sets. at $300-1000/set I doubt importing wood is that big of deal.
They haven't used only indigenous wood. They use Ebony and that isn't from India. So they do import some of their wood. Guitar makers in Japan, China, Korea, Germany and the US import wood all the time. Yes, India is cheap labor, so unless you find a place that has the kind of wood you seek plus cheap labor and quality craftsmen, you will have to import suitable wood to India. No getting around it. It will be very expensive moving the entire operation to another country so it would seem prudent at least in the short term to just bite the bullet, find suitable wood and import it to India.
They haven't used only indigenous wood. They use Ebony and that isn't from India. So they do import some of their wood. Guitar makers in Japan, China, Korea, Germany and the US import wood all the time. Yes, India is cheap labor, so unless you find a place that has the kind of wood you seek plus cheap labor and quality craftsmen, you will have to import suitable wood to India. No getting around it. It will be very expensive moving the entire operation to another country so it would seem prudent at least in the short term to just bite the bullet, find suitable wood and import it to India.
I agree. It is going to be interesting to watch the developments.
all I can say is Wow. have you even TRIED to look for chess pieces carved OUTSIDE of india. I did!
very unconvinced that people in other places in the world possess the skills to start turning out stauton quality peices.
my guess is that this will basically just increase the price of chess pieces.
no more $100 sets. at $300-1000/set I doubt importing wood is that big of deal.
maybe, in the Philippines and in Indonesia..... .......
these folks do not have websites though, they are villagers (rural) from the touristy parts of the country.... ......
members from these countries could give better insights on this .... ......
At the time, a number of years ago, this was not an issue. There were more than one exact wood types that would come under each category; Bud Rosewood, Blood Rosewood, Golden Rosewood and even Rosewood.
All of this discussion of false advertising and such is now a moot point. All Rosewood types have been banned, along with Sheesham and Bubinga and a few others.
There has to be some kind of wood suitable for dark Chess pieces that is available in India that is not banned and will be plentiful enough for manufacturing use.
If there are none, then the Indian artisans that currently make Chess pieces will need to find sources to import the woods they need. And failing that, they will simply go to staining boxwood for dark pieces, lowering the quality of all sets produced in India.
And if all that happens we very well might see a different geographical area come to prominence for producing high quality Chess sets.
This will be interesting to watch.