Why Real Ivory Chess Sets Are Now Banned and What to Buy Instead

The Legal Ban on Ivory Chess Sets Explained

For centuries, ivory was prized for chess pieces because it turned crisply on the lathe and took a fine polish. That era has ended. The Ivory Act 2018, which came into force in 2022, bans the dealing in most items containing elephant ivory in the United Kingdom, with only narrow exemptions. The law is deliberately strict, and it applies to sales, offers to sell and purchases, not merely to new carving.

Internationally, ivory trade is governed by CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which has prohibited commercial international trade in elephant ivory since 1990. The combined effect is that buying or selling an ivory chess set is now a legal minefield, and in most cases simply unlawful.

For anyone building a collection, the message is clear. The ethical, legal and practical choice today is a fine wooden Staunton set. If you are weighing up your first serious purchase, our chess buying guide sets out everything you need to know.

Why Ivory Was Once the Prestige Material

Historically, ivory sat at the top of the hierarchy of chess materials. The finest antique Staunton sets were offered in both boxwood and ivory, the latter commanding a considerable premium. When Jaques of London created and designed the Staunton pattern in 1849, registered on 1 March that year and named for the champion Howard Staunton, the very best examples were turned in ivory for wealthy patrons. You can read the fuller story on our Staunton chess set history page.

Ivory's appeal was aesthetic and tactile. It weighted well, aged to a warm patina and carried carving beautifully. Yet the same qualities that made it desirable drove the slaughter of elephants on an industrial scale. The Encyclopaedia Britannica records how demand for ivory ornaments and luxury goods devastated wild elephant populations across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Modern collectors increasingly view ivory sets not as prestige objects but as relics of a trade the world has rightly outlawed. The prestige has shifted, decisively, to master craftsmanship in sustainable materials.

Boxwood and Ebony: The Modern Standard

The great news for players is that the traditional wooden Staunton set was always the true benchmark, not a compromise. Boxwood provides the natural cream pieces, and ebony or ebonised wood provides the dark pieces. These materials turn to fine detail, weight beautifully and last for generations. To understand the differences in depth, see our guide to chess piece materials and our comparison of wooden versus plastic sets.

Ebony is a genuinely dense, luxurious wood, while high-quality ebonised boxwood offers a similar deep black finish at a more accessible price. If you are drawn to the darker aesthetic, our ebonised chess sets buying guide explains what to look for. A well-made wooden set delivers everything ivory once promised, warmth, weight and beauty, without any legal or ethical concern.

Browse the Jaques of London chess sets collection to see how these materials look in fully weighted, tournament-standard pieces.

What to Look For in a Quality Staunton Set

A truly fine Staunton set is defined by proportion, weighting and finish. The knight, the only piece that is carved rather than turned, is the acid test of craftsmanship. Look for a lively, characterful horse's head with clean detail. The pieces should feel substantial in the hand, with a low centre of gravity from proper weighting and a stable, felted base. Our overview of chess pieces explains what each should look like in a classic set.

Consider king height and base diameter in relation to your board, a subject we cover in the chess board guide. A 95mm king suits most home and club play. For readers building a lasting collection, our guide to the best chess sets for serious study and our first investment buying guide both weigh materials, provenance and value.

The story of Jaques and the Staunton design is told on our about Jaques page. The Chess.com reference on the Staunton pattern confirms why it remains the tournament standard to this day.

Buying, Selling and Owning Antique Sets Legally

If you already own an antique ivory set, ownership itself is not banned, but selling it almost always is unless it qualifies for a narrow exemption and is registered with the authorities. The safest course is to seek professional advice before any transaction. For collectors focused on genuine investment value, our antique chess set investment buying guide explains how to build a legal, ethical and appreciating collection in wood.

Provenance matters enormously in the antique market, and reputable auction houses now decline ivory consignments outright. The British Museum collection and the historical resources at Chess History by Edward Winter both document the transition of chess craftsmanship away from ivory across the modern period.

For living-room display and gifting alike, a wooden set is the confident, future-proof choice. See our guidance on coffee table display sets for pieces that combine legality with real presence.

Why Jaques of London Is the Trusted Modern Choice

Jaques of London has an unbroken connection to the Staunton pattern it created in 1849, working with the named registrant Nathaniel Cook. No maker has a stronger claim to the design or a deeper understanding of how a Staunton set should feel and play. Every piece is offered in ethical, legally sound materials, so you buy with complete confidence.

Whether you want a heirloom in ebony or an accessible ebonised set for study and club play, the Jaques chess collection covers the full range. For those on a budget, our guide to the best chess sets under 100 pounds shows that quality need not be costly.

The wider cultural importance of the game is explored in our chess in culture feature, and authoritative background on the Staunton design is available via Wikipedia. The conclusion is simple. Choose wood, choose craftsmanship, and choose a set you can own, play and pass on with a clear conscience.