Who would have believed that this sacred city, revered for its tranquil Harmandir Sahib and lavish culinary expositions, has a hidden crafting tradition which few are aware of?
We are familiar with the ancient city’s martial arts traditions and its textile and jewellery heritage…but chess? That’s something it’s never trumpeted about.
Sequestered amongst the lanes and gullies of its lazy sprawl are workrooms where a small band of dedicated artisans have long pursued the fine art of carving chess men, which have been onboarded on chess boards for a global market. And the firm which has kept this tradition alive is The Chess Empire helmed by CEO Rishi Sharma, a third-generation scion of this chess legacy.
Launched in 1962 as a family business by his grandfather Shiv Dyal Sharma The Chess Empire formerly the Amritsar Ivory Works, is India’s oldest and largest chess manufacturing company. Back in the day, before the ban on international ivory trade in the 1990s, Amritsar had a fair number of artisans who were adept at ivory carving…be it for hair combs, jewellery, furniture, decorative items or even chessmen. Both Sharma’s father, Rajesh Sharma, and grandfather Shiv Dyal Sharma were so skilled in ivory carving it inspired them to set up The Chess Empire. Ivory was replaced by shisham, boxwood, rosewood and ebony to carve the chessmen.
The Chess Empire offers products made from 100% eco-friendly woods. It sources its woods directly from Forest Departments and no green life trees have been used to make any of its products.
Owning a chessboard with intricately handcrafted pieces doesn’t come cheap, but for those who value true artistry the price is no big deal for this luxury version of the board game. Its professional and collector’s chess sets can sell for up to $4,000 U.S. on the international market.
At The Chess Empire each handcrafted chessman is a treasure. Quality control remains at the heart of every single piece— from the detailing of the King finial to the pawn, is done in-house so that every single chess set is a masterpiece. A deep understanding of best quality woods and choosing the right equipment to manufacture the world’s most elegant chess pieces is intrinsic to The Chess Empire’s approach to its craft.
Artisans can spend a lifetime’s career being a specialist in a particular piece…it could be the king, the queen, the castle or a pawn. But the most challenging one is the knight, which is highly detailed and entirely carved by hand.
Backed by over 60 years of research the company has a formidable reputation for enhancing perfection in design, craftsmanship and finesse of the product. The Chess Empire offers chess boards in various designs, sizes and wood combinations along with exquisitely carved chess pieces.
Rajesh Sharma, Rishi’s father, got his first big international break by collaborating with American businessman Dennis Peterson, owner of Legend Products, the USA in 1991-1992. The duo went on to introduce the Pioneer Series and Monarch Series in the chess market, which became a huge success with chess sets produced in Boxwood/Ebony. A later collaboration with Frank A. Camarrata Jr (The House of Staunton, USA) in 1994 inspired the launch of hundreds of creations in exclusive chess set designs in various sizes and wood combinations like Sultan Series, Sheffield Series, Empire Series, Centurion Series, Classic Staunton, Morphy Series, Player Series, Professional Series and many more chess set designs continuously.
Under Rishi’s steerage the company has expanded the business even further with its high-quality chess sets, chess pieces, chess tables, travelling chess sets, bone chess pieces, artistic chess pieces, luxury wood chess boards, golden prestige collection, chess accessories and even checkers set and backgammon sets.
The Chess Empire has customised various designs of chess sets and reproductions for famous chess collectors, business tycoons and world-renowned celebrities.
Chess collectors can explore the exclusively designed chess products directly from the manufacturer with the assurance of choicest workmanship and affordable prices with prompt services backed by an original authenticated Certificate of quality.