Cigar-Box Chess Set

M. Roth / Babylon Workshop 2003

This is something I created and sold on eBay. The small brass chessmen came from another eBay seller, finance_wiz and the cigar box came from an old-style cigar shop in downtown Chicago; they sell empty boxes for $1 and give the money to charity. I used a wood-burner to inscribe a small chessboard on the lid of the box after sanding away the gold lettering. The dark squares aren't stained, they're very carefully burned without cutting into the surface. I know it's not perfect, but I intended it to have a hand-made unique appeal. I'm a little sad that I sold it, but I can't keep everything I create. I hope the man who bought it enjoys it.

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