These attractive chessmen in the traditional Staunton style first made by Jaques of London in 1849 are crafted from black stained and Kari wood. They are hand polished for a beautiful luster and they are weighted for greater stability. The Staunton design has become the standard for tournament play. The pieces are easily distinguishable making for easier game play. Knights are made to resemble the head and neck of a horse. Kings are the tallest pieces featuring a cross atop a closed crown. Queens are slightly smaller than the kings, and feature a coronet topped with a small ball. Rooks feature castle battlements, and bishops resemble a liturgical headdress of a western church. Pawns are the smallest and are topped by a plain ball.