PRINTWORKS: Wood Chess

Chess The Minimalist

A remarkably calm battle for the crown

Kingdoms are at stake, yet visually everything remains wonderfully composed. PRINTWORKS The Minimalist Chess from the Legacy Collection reinterprets the classic game through warm woods and a beautifully restrained design language. The 30 x 30 cm chessboard and pieces are crafted from walnut, maple and Schima superba, with pale natural wood and deep brown forming the 64 squares and the two opposing sets. Kings, queens, rooks, bishops, knights and pawns retain their familiar identities, but ornamental details give way to clean geometric silhouettes; the king stands 6.8 cm tall. Once the game is finished, the complete set slips into a beige cardboard box covered in cotton cloth. Measuring 30 x 30 x 6.5 cm and weighing approximately 2.2 kg, the closed box has the presence of a generous coffee table book, which is rather the point. The Minimalist is designed to live amongst books, candles and favourite objects instead of waiting unseen in a games cupboard. Chess as decoration? As long as somebody eventually makes the first move, we see no problem.

Minimal in form, certainly not in strategy

The name refers to the design rather than the game itself. The Minimalist is played with the traditional 32 chess pieces and familiar rules, while PRINTWORKS pares the figures back to their characteristic shapes. They remain recognisable to new players, but the overall look feels far removed from formal tournament chess. That balance makes the set particularly appealing as a gift for a beginner: no encyclopaedic knowledge of openings is required to appreciate the craftsmanship, materials and design. Then there is the familiar question of wood versus plastic. Neither material is automatically more durable in every situation. Plastic is easy to care for and can withstand plenty of handling, while properly cared-for wood can accompany years of games and offers a warmth and tactile character all its own. With The Minimalist, walnut and maple are integral to the visual experience, giving every board its natural grain and the set its quietly distinctive character.

Perhaps the cleverest move is going offline

PRINTWORKS was founded in Stockholm in 2017 following an observation that has only become more familiar: we spend plenty of time together, yet rather a lot of it takes place behind separate screens. The Swedish brand brings analogue rituals back into everyday life, encouraging us to turn the pages of a photo album, shuffle real cards and move real pieces across a board. Crucially, those objects are designed to become part of the home rather than something that needs hiding afterwards. The Minimalist from the Legacy Collection captures that idea particularly well. A centuries-old game is given a contemporary expression without losing the reason it exists in the first place: to be played. It is an approach that feels very much at home at LIVOSY too. We like objects that contribute to a room but still earn their place there through use. This chess set happens to have 64 rather convincing arguments.

For travel, think weekend bag rather than backpack

With its 30 x 30 cm board, The Minimalist is relatively compact for a full wooden chess set, while the closed box keeps the pieces together neatly between games. At approximately 2.2 kg, however, this is not an ultra-light travel chess set designed to disappear into a backpack. It makes much more sense for a weekend away, holiday home or car journey where a little extra weight is no great concern. Back at home, the warm brown and beige palette sits naturally alongside timber, glass, ceramics and art books on a coffee table, shelf or sideboard. Those who enjoy collecting or gifting analogue games can explore PRINTWORKS further through backgammon, card and memory games, as well as other chess editions with their own distinct personalities. Photo albums and The Essentials gift sets continue the same idea beyond the games table. The Minimalist is the quieter character in the room: made for chess players, design lovers and anyone familiar with a match that begins with “just one quick game” and ends considerably later.