Chess Minibar "Grandmaster" — .925 Silver, Niello, Fine Wood

A chess minibar made of 925 sterling silver, hand-engraved niello, gilding, and three precious woods: 32 pieces with a silver base ring, a board with eight silver appliqués, and a complete minibar underneath with stemmed glasses, shot glasses, a tray, and a serving fork. Designed by Petrova O.A., member of the Union of Artists of Russia, and crafted at the SevChern manufactory in Veliky Ustyug. For the chess player, the collector, or the man who truly has everything—a piece to play with, admire, and pass on.

At a glance

• Total dimensions: 570 × 570 × 200 mm
• Silver weight: approx. approx. 1,716.60 g (weight of the silver parts: piece rings, board appliqués, and minibar parts)
• Pieces: 32 pieces made of solid wood (dark wenge, light Canadian maple, American walnut as an accent), each with a 925 sterling silver ring at the base, niello-engraved and gilded
• Board appliqués: 4 corner fittings in rocaille style, 60.5 × 46 mm each; 2 diamond-shaped center ornaments with niello; 2 gold strips, 216 × 7 mm each
• Stemmed glasses: 2 pieces, 65 ml, D 52 × H 104 mm, gold-plated interior
• Shot glasses: 2 pieces, 40 ml, D 42.5 × H 47 mm
• Serving tray: 1 piece, oval, L 167.5 × W 94 × H 5 mm
• Serving fork: 1 piece, L 138 × W 18 mm
• Material: 925 sterling silver with hand-engraved niello and gilding, precious wood (wenge, Canadian maple, American walnut)
• Designer: Petrova O.A., member of the Union of Artists of Russia

Material and workmanship

Each of the 32 chess pieces is turned from solid wood—the dark side from wenge, the light side from Canadian maple, complemented by American walnut in the mid-tones. Each piece features a base ring made of 925 sterling silver, hand-engraved with niello ornaments and gilded—not an applied decoration, but solid silver that encloses the wooden body. Niello is a dark silver-sulfur alloy that is melted into the engraved lines over an open flame, bonding permanently with the silver; it does not fade, but becomes more contrasted with each polishing. The chessboard itself is the lid of a wooden chest, decorated at the edges and corners with eight hand-engraved silver appliqués: four corner fittings in a curved rocaille style, two diamond-shaped center ornaments with niello ornamentation, and two narrow gold strips that frame the board like a picture frame. The set was designed by Petrova O.A., member of the Union of Artists of Russia, and crafted at the SevChern manufactory in Veliky Ustyug.

Usage and occasions

Hidden beneath the chessboard is the minibar: two gold-lined stemmed glasses for cognac or whisky, two compact shot glasses for a quick toast between moves, an oval serving tray as a stage for the glasses, and a delicate serving fork for olives or cheese. This combination makes the set a gift for the chess player who appreciates good workmanship, as well as for the collector who wants a piece featuring silver, niello, gilding, and three precious woods in their display cabinet. Also suitable as a gift for business partners, retirement, or the milestone birthday of a man who truly has everything, this set is an answer no one expects.

Engraving and SilberVerse card

Engraving is possible on the silver surfaces of the board or on the tray upon request—name, date, or a short dedication. On request, we include a 15 × 10 cm photo-format SilberVerse card: individually designed to suit the occasion, free of charge.

Care

Clean the silver parts with a soft silver polishing cloth; do not use a dishwasher or silver dip—this would damage the gilding. Store the wooden chest in a dry place and protect it from direct sunlight. It is best to handle the pieces by the wooden body, not the silver ring, to preserve the polish.

Frequently asked questions

Can you actually play chess with this set?

Yes, all 32 pieces are complete and playable—king, queen, knight, bishop, rook, and pawn in two colors each. The board has a standard 8×8 grid.

What exactly does the minibar contain?

Two stemmed glasses (65 ml, gold-plated interior), two shot glasses (40 ml), an oval serving tray, and a serving fork—all made of 925 silver with niello and gilding, matching the pieces.

How is the set delivered?

In a leather bag with carrying handles. Pieces and minibar components have dedicated compartments inside the wooden chest.

You might also be interested in

For the matching table, you can find further table silver and silver tableware in 925 silver. If you are looking for more extraordinary gift ideas, take a look at our gift ideas in 925 silver.