Figured Purpleheart & Canarywood Chess Board, Handmade in Canada

$399.00

A solid hardwood chess board in figured purpleheart and canarywood, hand-built on the Manitoba prairie. Not veneer, not mass-produced — one of one. Board only; the matching base and hand-cut piece set are still in the shop.

Sold — I can build another. About 4–6 weeks.

This one has found a home.

Every board is a one-of-one — when it’s gone, it’s gone. Tell me what you’re after and I’ll let you know what’s coming off the bench next.

Ask about the next one →

Choosing pieces for this board

This board has 2″ squares — the ideal match is a 3½″ (89 mm) king (about a 1½″ base), the standard tournament proportion. Any Staunton set that size sits right on it.

Fitted piece sets are coming. Hand-shaped here on the prairie to match these boards, and one-of-one like the board itself. Want first word when they’re ready?

Get on the piece-set list →

Description

Set it on the table and the room reorganizes itself around it. This figured purpleheart chess board pairs deep violet purpleheart with warm, honeyed canarywood. Both woods carry figure that catches the light as you move past.

I build each one by hand in my Virden, Manitoba woodshop. Every step, from milling to finish, happens on the Canadian prairie.

First, the wood does the talking. Purpleheart deepens from a dull grey-brown to rich violet as it meets daylight. Canarywood, meanwhile, carries golden-orange streaks that no two boards ever share. So the contrast is genuinely yours.

Both are solid hardwood, not a veneer skin over MDF. That is more than most “premium” boards near this price can say. A thin purpleheart band and a wider canarywood border frame the squares. Then two coats of hardening oil wake up the grain. Finally, a double coat of graphene tops it off — a tough, modern finish that shrugs off moisture and everyday scuffs.

What’s included

  • One solid figured purpleheart & canarywood chess board, 17½″ × 17½″ × ½″, 4.35 lb
  • 2″ playing squares
  • Hand-oiled and sealed with a durable graphene top coat
  • Cork feet to protect your table
  • Board only — chessmen not included

A purpleheart chess board like this marks a milestone. It suits a birthday, a retirement, a wedding, or a head-of-the-table gift. Think of the player who owns every set but no board worth the pieces. Meanwhile, it sits comfortably beside the rest of the game room collection.

Caring for your purpleheart chess board

First, wipe it with a soft, barely-damp cloth. Then dry it flat. Because the graphene-sealed surface is low-maintenance, it needs no regular re-oiling. Most importantly, keep it out of prolonged direct sunlight, so the purpleheart holds its deep violet.

Shipping & arrival

It ships from Manitoba via Canada Post, carefully boxed. This is one-of-one stock. So once it sells, the next board carries its own grain. Finally, I build each board myself, one at a time, in my Virden, Manitoba shop. Questions before you buy? Just send a message.

Additional information

Weight 4.35 lbs
Dimensions 17.5 × 17.5 × 0.5 in

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Northern Prairie Woodworks is a one-person shop in Virden, Manitoba
Making heirloom cutting boards and handcrafted wood goods
Ships across Canada and the US. Made to be Passed Down.

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