Figured Purpleheart & Canarywood Chess Board, Handmade in Canada

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.