Every purchase in the Kiva Store supports artisan borrowers and helps to fund Kiva's operations.
Coming soon!
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks.Read more
Pre-Order Now!
This item is available for pre-order and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks.Read more
About
Chess pieces take up the challenge for a peaceful battle on the playing field. Intricately carved from sese wood, red warriors vie with black on a tooled leather playing field. Francis Agbete crafts the set by hand and lines it in velvet. The board is a box to store the pieces when not in use.
Product details
- 0.82 kgs
- 1.8 lbs
- 7.0 cm H x 31.0 cm W x 31.0 cm D
- 2.8" H x 12.25" W x 12.25" D
Meet the artist
"I have always helped my father when he's needed me, so coming to assist my father at the workshop at this time of my educational career was not a new job for me."
Latest Update
“Since I joined Novica in 2003, I have succeeded in gaining international recognition. Before, I only sold within my country and neighboring African countries. But now I can sell more easily on Novica's vibrant website. This has shaped my life. The steadiness of my Novica sales has resulted in my family being able to rely on me since I am now better off financially.
“I've improved on my skills, purchased better hand tools and raw materials. I completed higher education in Hospitality and Tourism, and two of my siblings are now graduates through my support. All my children are in good schools, at various levels -- elementary and secondary schools. This has been possible through my Novica sales. My financial situation has improved dramatically since I joined Novica. The turnaround included purchasing my own land where I was able to put up a building where my family and I reside, a place we can call our own. Shelter is a key security avenue for me.
“In my community, we have set up an association meant to check the welfare of the people in the community, and because of the respect I have earned through Novica, my positive attitude, and the way I handle the affairs of my family, I have been made leader of that group. When designing my pieces I try to use precision and pay a lot of attention to quality. Other artisans in my region now ask for my opinion when designing. I would like Novica to continue to equip artisans with information on contemporary issues to help us improve on our works, and to continue helping us with microcredit loans to expand our endeavors.”
Original Artist Story
"My name is Francis Agbete and I come from a family of traditional wood carvers. I was born in 1976 in a suburb of Accra. I attended the Vakpo Secondary Technical Institute from 1994 to 1996, and upon graduation, I enrolled at the Accra Polytechnical Institute to read the Mechanical Technician course grade two. While at school, funding was becoming a difficulty. So during weekends and vacations, I would visit my father's wood carving workshop and assist him by carving some products for sale. I have always helped my father when he needed me, so coming to assist my father at the workshop at this time of my educational career was not a new job for me.
"The realization eventually dawned on me to stay on, work on my own designs, and display my own woodcarvings so that I could earn enough to support my education. I ventured and opened a workshop at the Craft Village near the Tetteh Quarshie Circle. Managing and controlling the operations of the shop was becoming a problem since, as a student, I needed more time for my studies than for my carving jobs. To solve this problem, I explained this idea both to my sister, Mary Agbete and my cousin, Stephen Agbete and asked them about the possibility of looking after the workshop and selling the items I carved while I was at school. They agreed.
"This arrangement has continued to work until now. We opened a new workshop, and not only do I exhibit my own work, but there's my father's work too. The workshop has become a family business that caters to diverse customers including expatriate staff, tourists and hospitality companies.
"My family and I have showcased our designs at various wood fairs and international exhibitions such as the Ghana International Wood Product Fair, FESTAC and the International Festival for Arts and Culture, in Burkina Faso."
This item was handmade in West Africa by NOVICA artisan borrowers. Kiva lenders have helped these artisans stock up on materials, buy more tools and grow their businesses.
This item qualifies for FREE SHIPPING!
- Only valid on the Normal shipping option for shipments to 48 Lower US states.
- Discounted shipping price may not be applied to previous orders.
This item ships with a free artist storycard, so you can remember who you impacted today. Customized gift messages are also available with every order.

We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.
Return instructions
We pack, ship, certify and 100% guarantee the quality of this item. Watch this video to see how.
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 4 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.
Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.
If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.
This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).
Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!
DOWNLOAD

We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.
Triple 'Win' Pricing
Kiva Store offers triple win pricing, where YOU the consumer, Children from around the world, and Artisans all benefit.
WIN # 1 You Save!
Handmade goods from developing nations usually pass through a series of intermediaries before being purchased by retail consumers. Each of these intermediaries adds cost to the product, and that cost is passed on to the customer. The U.S. Fund for Kiva partnered with NOVICA, who works directly with artists through their regional offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America, allowing purchases from Kiva Store to go directly from the artisans to fulfilling customer orders. By skipping steps in the traditional supply chain, you can buy high quality items for less than the regular retail prices.
WIN # 2 Children Benefit!
Each item purchased from Kiva Store will benefit Kiva's programmes that provide lifesaving nutrition, medicine, education, clean water, emergency relief and more to children in need.
You can learn more about Kiva's work, on About Kiva.
WIN # 3 Artisans Profit!
Kiva Store artisans set their own prices and control their own businesses. Kiva Store offers artisans a free platform to sell their work throughout the United States.
Turn your gift-giving into an art form with our new premium gift wrapping service!
Delivering a beautiful handmade treasure, wrapped by hand in exquisite packaging will make your gifts truly unforgettable.
Above all, it's EASY! Just select the premium gift wrapping option during checkout and we do the rest. No more last minute worries about presentation - your gifts will be the best dressed every time!
Most premium gift wrap is only $3.95 - $5.95 per item.
Triple 'Win' Pricing
Kiva Store offers triple win pricing, where YOU the consumer, Children from around the world, and Artisans all benefit.
WIN # 1 You Save!
Handmade goods from developing nations usually pass through a series of intermediaries before being purchased by retail consumers. Each of these intermediaries adds cost to the product, and that cost is passed on to the customer. The U.S. Fund for Kiva partnered with NOVICA, who works directly with artists through their regional offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America, allowing purchases from Kiva Store to go directly from the artisans to fulfilling customer orders. By skipping steps in the traditional supply chain, you can buy high quality items for less than the regular retail prices.
WIN # 2 Children Benefit!
Each item purchased from Kiva Store will benefit Kiva's programmes that provide lifesaving nutrition, medicine, education, clean water, emergency relief and more to children in need.
You can learn more about Kiva's work, on About Kiva.
WIN # 3 Artisans Profit!
Kiva Store artisans set their own prices and control their own businesses. Kiva Store offers artisans a free platform to sell their work throughout the United States.