About us

Matthias Weichert, founder Oxbridge Chess

I worked as an architect in Germany and England for about 10 years on various types of projects up to £12M. Before studying architecture I did an apprenticeship as a carpenter. I have always been interested in product design, and with the idea for the Cambridge vs Oxford Chess Set, I founded Furry Leaves Design Ltd.

The idea for the chess set came when my wife was doing her PhD in Cambridge and I was working as an architect. We had long admired the rich history, architecture and stories of both Cambridge and Oxford.

The project was a journey of more than three years and was only possible with the support and help of many friends. I worked intensively with the sculptor, Shawn Slother, to ensure the character of the original sculptures found in Cambridge and Oxford were faithfully represented. Our design goal was to create a set for elegant presentation and play. I would like to extend special thanks to Shawn for his amazing work sculpting the master pieces.

We also appreciate the support and permission granted by several institutions in both cities listed below.

Shawn Slother, Sculptor

Shawn has over 20 years of experience as a professional sculptor, much of it capturing likenesses. He has worked for a variety of clients such as the Smithsonian Institute and the Martin Luther King Jr Foundation. Shawn has done sculpts for the musical production “Les Miserables” in London, worked for film-studios like Warner Bros and Disney, and created awards for sport and social events.

His work has been rewarded by appearing in numerous corporate literature and promotional catalogs. He has been nominated for several Collector’s Editions Awards of Excellence, profiled in numerous publications, and received awards for his relief sculptures.

You can find him at https://www.sculpture-portraits.com/

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to the colleges, libraries, and museums that provided formal permission and access to photograph statues on their grounds for the purpose of this set. This project was only possible with the enthusiasm and kind assistance of many individuals at the following organisations:

King Henry VIII, by permission of Trinity College, Cambridge

William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, by permission of the Bodleian Library, Oxford

Lady Margaret Beaufort, by permission of the Master and Fellows of St John’s College, Cambridge

Queen Caroline of Ansbach, by permission of The Queen’s College, Oxford

Sir Isaac Newton, by permission of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History

John Locke, by permission of the Governing Body of Christ Church, Oxford

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