Matthew McDermott, The Illinois Street Chess Board (WORLD 2023)

Photos:

Zoryana Perterson

Country:

United States

Inspired by the first place I started to woodwork, a house on Illinois Street, this chessboard (and it's sister pair) were a work of both technique and design skill. My goal was to create something that paired disciplines at every turn. The frame of the board is made from plywood, skinned with veneer in the style of lumber core plywood construction. The core of the frame uses uniquely shaped staves to create the contoured look. The chessboard, made out of veneers of English Sycamore and Ebony, a similar test of skill in hand cutting veneer. In the end, I hope I created something that will not only stand the test of time but also be enjoyed by many, to simply play a game of chess. It now sits in my parents house, and the sister's board sitting in Cosettes's parents living room, enjoyed by them and their friends.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.