Andrzej Nowakowski was born in Lublin in 1938 and, after completing his basic education, attended the Higher Art School in Warsaw from 1953 to 1957. He achieved top marks in drawing, painting and sculpture. Already during this time he drew numerous comic figures, which is reflected in his later work. Soon his love for metal scultpture developed, initially he made rings, brooches, bracelets, etc.

His talent was discovered by Prof. Adam Jablonski, director of the ORNO manufactury. Nowakoski worked there for five years and received the finishing touches as a goldsmith. In 1973, he married Magdalena Strzelecka and founded his own goldsmith’s workshop with her. In a very short time he became known beyond Poland’s borders and received commissions, especially from Japan. He received many awards, including the Silver Cross of Merit. Andrzej Nowakowski died in Warsaw in 2008. Nowakowski created some wonderful chess sets. Each known set come with a matching board box to store the pieces and a speically made cloth bag, said to be the work of his wife Magda. 

The chess pieces are mostly cut from brass and copper sheet and then soldered. In exceptional cases, Nowakovski has also used silver. He often made historically significant event as a main subject.