The Journey of the Crowns and Roses chess set
If someone wanted to see how the philosophy of Mynith takes shape, the perfect example would be the creation of our first artifact – and introduction of our first collection and theme – the chess set of Crowns and Roses.*
The journey from concept to reality was anything but simple.
We brainstormed and argued about the project’s themes that were to be explored – with a collection of tossed notes and semi-finished sketches, measurements and clay mock ups to prove it. We wanted to create a grounded, elegant chessboard, striving for perfection through simplicity while at the same time – through dynamic, intricate forms – bestowing symbolism and narrative onto the design.
Our hearts were set on using natural wood as a foundation but had to search for what would better capture the darkened feeling of the middle ages. We ended up handpicking boards of American walnut to create a solid base. At the same time, we began shaping the six chess piece prototypes, blocking them in clay, refining their forms, and exploring the body language that would best express their symbolism. The decision to translate each piece into an anthropomorphic figure allowed us to capture not just their function on the board, but the deeper human complications they represent.
Finalizing the chessboard’s design was a challenge in itself. Dozens of trials, test boards, and refinements led to the version we finally committed to – every curve, slope, and connection tested and reworked to meet our vision. Transferring our digital sketches to CNC machining surfaced unexpected difficulties, especially in preserving the integrity of the board’s flat surface in contrast with its slanted sides and tile borders while keeping everything true to the material and design.
Treated with the finest wax-based protective finish to enhance its grain and color, the board was further refined with cast resin symbols embedded into its surface. One of the defining moments of the project came with the integration of these two opposing symbols, the Crown and the Rose, into the board itself. It wasn’t just about adding ornamentation; it was about elevating their meaning. The entire color palette of the project was solidified here: the Crown, with its off-white/grey and gold, symbolizing power and its inevitable corruption; the Rose, with deep carmine red and graphite hues, embodying secrecy, bloodshed, and sacrifice.The tiles, meticulously filled and sealed, were then sanded to reach the desired, velvety finish.
The process of crafting the pieces was a journey of its own. We sculpted each figure into a 30cm clay sculpture, scanned them, and reduced them into UV resin miniatures(12 cm of height), molding and casting the first versions in polyurethane resin. Additional details – dresses, shields, and subtle refinements and accessories – were carefully sculpted with epoxy clay before each piece was meticulously sanded up to 12000 grit (a long, painstaking process). Master molds were created, color recipes tested, and a precise pouring technique was developed to achieve the final look. Each piece was then individually inspected, trimmed, hand-polished, and given a protective resin coat to ensure durability against time, sunlight, and dust.
Alongside the chessboard and pieces, we worked on the finer details that accent the experience like the walnut bases for the figures with their napa leather pads, resin stands for the board, a custom storage box, a velvet case for the chessboard itself and countless other elements that tie everything together. It was a cycle of experimentation, trial and error, setbacks, and small victories.
What began as a passion project took more than two years to develop, refine, and bring to life. There. surely, were moments of doubt, questions about whether the effort was worth it, whether we were chasing an impossible ideal. But in the end, the result speaks for itself, and we stand by every choice we made. This chess set is more than just a product; it is the embodiment of everything Mynith stands for, the transformation of thought into form, the shaping of ideas into something real, something tangible, something that tells a story.
And this is just the beginning.