When we were kids, my sisters and I loved to play chess – actually no, let me rephrase that – we loved to play with the chess pieces. We either made up fantastical stories about the king and queen, or made them part of the scenery starring our dolls and teddy bears. And yes, we lost so many pieces that dad ended up getting two sets, a wood chess set for us to play with, and a Mexican onyx one for him to play with!Imagine my surprise when I encountered Novica's international collection of chess sets – the perfect contribution to my web of stories! See, chess appeals and challenges artists too, and classic chess pieces become characters from religion, legends, or history, like Peruvian chess sets featuring Inca royalty and army facing a Spanish court.
Hand-carved wood chess sets from Bali are exquisitely detailed – their storage box even becomes a table! The classic king and queen pieces become Buddha and Kwam Im or Rama and Sita. Chess players can enjoy the intellectual challenge taking place in the realm of Buddhism, the Ramayana – even in the Barong, a classic Balinese dance! Other themes include mighty dragons, lions, tigers and frogs.
Novica's versatile collection of chess sets ranges from India's classic wood versions, to ultra-modern, urban styles from Mexico. They are crafted by hand from recycled auto parts – ever seen a NGK and AC DELCO spark plug bishop? 
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