About Kiln the King

Kiln the King is a London-based ceramic studio dedicated exclusively to handcrafted chess sets.

Every piece is shaped by hand without moulds or repetition, meaning no two sets are ever the same.

We believe that utility, art, and focus are the foundations of a thoughtful home. A chess set sits naturally at the intersection of these ideals: an object to, used, focused on and returned to throughout a lifetime.

Each set takes weeks to complete, from forming and refining to glazing and multiple firings. As a result, the studio produces no more than 60 chess sets each year, every one made start to finish by one potter.

In a world of mass production, Kiln the King exists to make objects slowly, deliberately, and with the intention that they will be played, handled and displayed.