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Kim's Chess Collection
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Probably Russian Caricature set mid 20th Century
Vintage and rare set probably from 1930-1960. The material from which the pieces are made is a kind of compound. It looks similar to plaster, but lighter. It reminds me a little of salt dough, which means it could be a chess set made of an organic composite material. The figures were not produced in a mould, because there are too many differences in the details between the individual pieces for that.
This can be seen, for example, in the bishops, which all look different. It indicates that each individual sculpture was handmade. The pieces themselves resemble comic or cartoon characters from the 1930s or 1940s. However, I have not yet been able to find a specific template after which they were modelled. The kings are about 12.8 cm or 5" tall. The faces of the characters and their postures are heavily exaggerated, as can be seen from some of the detail shots, e.g. red cheeks, red lips, black outlined eyes etc. On the back, the kings have a large coin with a dollar sign at their feet. All in all, an extremely unusual collector's item.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the photos and the description.
This can be seen, for example, in the bishops, which all look different. It indicates that each individual sculpture was handmade. The pieces themselves resemble comic or cartoon characters from the 1930s or 1940s. However, I have not yet been able to find a specific template after which they were modelled. The kings are about 12.8 cm or 5" tall. The faces of the characters and their postures are heavily exaggerated, as can be seen from some of the detail shots, e.g. red cheeks, red lips, black outlined eyes etc. On the back, the kings have a large coin with a dollar sign at their feet. All in all, an extremely unusual collector's item.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the photos and the description.
Erzgebirge Set, mid 20th Century
A figural chess set made in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountain) region in South-East Germany in the second half of the 20th century. The pieces with a king size of 13.4 cm were carved with a lot of attention to detail in the traditional folk art style typical for this region from a rather light and soft wood, probably some type of pine.
One side with a light yellowish lacquer, the other side predominantly lacquered in brown. The kings with an upright crown and large crosses in the Borstendorf style, wearing a robe and holding a long sword to the ground. The queens with a gown and wavy hair. The bishops as messengers holding a parchment (which indicates their connection to the German chess tradition in which the bishop is called "Läufer", which in this case means messenger). The knights as rearing horses. The rooks as multi tiered towers with windows and brickwork ornaments.
The highlight are the pawns, which are shown as heavily bearded and grim looking armed peasants, each of which is made in a different style and carrying some kind of weapon, including axes, daggers, maces and scythes.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the photos and the description.
One side with a light yellowish lacquer, the other side predominantly lacquered in brown. The kings with an upright crown and large crosses in the Borstendorf style, wearing a robe and holding a long sword to the ground. The queens with a gown and wavy hair. The bishops as messengers holding a parchment (which indicates their connection to the German chess tradition in which the bishop is called "Läufer", which in this case means messenger). The knights as rearing horses. The rooks as multi tiered towers with windows and brickwork ornaments.
The highlight are the pawns, which are shown as heavily bearded and grim looking armed peasants, each of which is made in a different style and carrying some kind of weapon, including axes, daggers, maces and scythes.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the photos and the description.
Vintage Figural Chess Set from Venezuela
OOAK, Charming, handmade porcelain chess set. Pieces represent two tribal figures in local customs. Even the cactus plants (Rooks) are different.
King 5.25" (13.3cm)
King 5.25" (13.3cm)
Vintage, OOAK, Artisan made, Yemenite figural Chess Set from Israel
This chess set is from mid 20th century made with love using multimedia materials such as cloth, gypsum, gemstones, metal ornaments. Handmade and painted. Each piece molded and has a unique expression with biblical motif. Signed by the artist Naomi.
King is 6.5" (16.5cm)
King is 6.5" (16.5cm)
Soviet Propaganda Porcelain Chessmen, Reds versus Whites
This is a rare and historically important Soviet Propaganda Porcelain Chessmen, also known as the Russian Reds versus Whites. The chess pieces are painted and gilt. The first run of these chess pieces was made at the porcelain produced by the Lomonosov Factory in St. Petersburg. The King stands 3.7″ tall. This version was likely made in St. Petersburg in the 1990s.
The Soviet Propaganda Chess set is an example of the propaganda porcelain produced by the State Porcelain Factory soon after the establishment of communism in Russia.in the years immediately following the 1917 Russian Revolution. The original Propaganda set was designed by two sisters who worked in the factory. Natalya Danko formed the figures and Yelena Danko painted them. Five versions of this set have since been identified as of this writing, including this set, sets marked 1921, 1923, 1925, and unidentified set, and the limited-edition Israeli version.
This set is a solid casting, like the 1925 and Israeli sets, not hollow, like the other versions. The pieces are marked on their undersides with the Soviet hammer and sickle mark, adjacent stylized crown.
The chess set has two very distinct armies. On the Communist side, the King is a blacksmith holding a sledgehammer; the Queen, a peasant woman carrying sheaves of wheat adorned with stars; Bishops are Russian soldiers, Knights are horses, Rooks are horse-headed boats, and the Pawns are female reapers holding sickles and sheaves of wheat.
On the Capitalist side: the King is represented as Death adorned with armor wearing an ermine-line cloak, the Queen, an allegory of Fortuna, holds a cornucopia brimming with gold coins; Bishops are officers of the Old Regime, Knights are horses, Rooks are boats with Pawns being suppressed workers or slaves bound in chains.
A Bit of History.
Previously the Imperial Factory until the Revolution in 1917, the Lomonosov Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg produced propaganda sets like this from 1922 onward. As the Bolsheviks took power of the country, they wanted to make porcelain affordable for the masses. Only the upper-class were able to buy such luxuries before. The new designs also represented the communist agenda and were a form of propaganda. The Post Revolution factory produced porcelain with a propagandist slant and are often associated with Sergei Chekhonin, the factory Director of Artistic Production. Highly sought-after propagandist items like the busts of Engles and Marx and the figure of the ‘Red Army Soldier’ were soon followed by a series of small sculptures promoting the differences in ideologies. The offered set, designed by the sculptress Natalia Danko, circa 1922, reflect this popular propagandist sentiment which favored the Soviets. The Imperial Porcelain Factory has reissued several items designed by prominent Russian artists from the 1920s, inspired by the avant-garde. The largest and most expensive item in the new porcelain collection is the “Red and White” chess set.
Many thanks to Frank Camaratta for the description.
The Soviet Propaganda Chess set is an example of the propaganda porcelain produced by the State Porcelain Factory soon after the establishment of communism in Russia.in the years immediately following the 1917 Russian Revolution. The original Propaganda set was designed by two sisters who worked in the factory. Natalya Danko formed the figures and Yelena Danko painted them. Five versions of this set have since been identified as of this writing, including this set, sets marked 1921, 1923, 1925, and unidentified set, and the limited-edition Israeli version.
This set is a solid casting, like the 1925 and Israeli sets, not hollow, like the other versions. The pieces are marked on their undersides with the Soviet hammer and sickle mark, adjacent stylized crown.
The chess set has two very distinct armies. On the Communist side, the King is a blacksmith holding a sledgehammer; the Queen, a peasant woman carrying sheaves of wheat adorned with stars; Bishops are Russian soldiers, Knights are horses, Rooks are horse-headed boats, and the Pawns are female reapers holding sickles and sheaves of wheat.
On the Capitalist side: the King is represented as Death adorned with armor wearing an ermine-line cloak, the Queen, an allegory of Fortuna, holds a cornucopia brimming with gold coins; Bishops are officers of the Old Regime, Knights are horses, Rooks are boats with Pawns being suppressed workers or slaves bound in chains.
A Bit of History.
Previously the Imperial Factory until the Revolution in 1917, the Lomonosov Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg produced propaganda sets like this from 1922 onward. As the Bolsheviks took power of the country, they wanted to make porcelain affordable for the masses. Only the upper-class were able to buy such luxuries before. The new designs also represented the communist agenda and were a form of propaganda. The Post Revolution factory produced porcelain with a propagandist slant and are often associated with Sergei Chekhonin, the factory Director of Artistic Production. Highly sought-after propagandist items like the busts of Engles and Marx and the figure of the ‘Red Army Soldier’ were soon followed by a series of small sculptures promoting the differences in ideologies. The offered set, designed by the sculptress Natalia Danko, circa 1922, reflect this popular propagandist sentiment which favored the Soviets. The Imperial Porcelain Factory has reissued several items designed by prominent Russian artists from the 1920s, inspired by the avant-garde. The largest and most expensive item in the new porcelain collection is the “Red and White” chess set.
Many thanks to Frank Camaratta for the description.
Ivan the Terrible by Oleg Raikis, 2024
Ivan IV Vasilyevich (1530 – 1584), commonly known as Ivan the Terrible, was Grand Prince of Moscow and all Russia from 1533, and Tsar of all Russia from 1547 until his death in 1584. He was the first Russian monarch to be crowned as tsar.
The King is Ivan the Terrible.
The Queen is his first wife Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yurieva (he had at least 6 wifes).
The Bishop is a nobleman.
The Knight is a jester, a holy fool.
The Rook is a Tower of Kremlin.
The Pawn is oprichnik (a member of the Oprichnina, a bodyguard corps established by Ivan the Terrible).
The set was first made by Oleg in 1997. 5 sets from Mammoth Ivory have been made, this is the first and only copy of the set made from boxwood.
The king is 10cm.
The King is Ivan the Terrible.
The Queen is his first wife Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yurieva (he had at least 6 wifes).
The Bishop is a nobleman.
The Knight is a jester, a holy fool.
The Rook is a Tower of Kremlin.
The Pawn is oprichnik (a member of the Oprichnina, a bodyguard corps established by Ivan the Terrible).
The set was first made by Oleg in 1997. 5 sets from Mammoth Ivory have been made, this is the first and only copy of the set made from boxwood.
The king is 10cm.
Clay chess set
Clay chess set, possibly Persian themed, height of king approx. 9cm, second half of the 20th Century
Fine Large Hand Carved Rat Chess Set
This set finely carved throughout with each pawn in individual posture, one side ebony the other in a red hardwood
Each pieces is carved from a block of wood. This set took a very skilled craftsman more than 3 months to create. Sourced out of Asia.
The individual rats tails are a highlight. Kings are 12cms tall.
Each pieces is carved from a block of wood. This set took a very skilled craftsman more than 3 months to create. Sourced out of Asia.
The individual rats tails are a highlight. Kings are 12cms tall.
Large Finely Carved Bear Wolf Chess Set
All pieces modeled as bears and wolves on rock plints. Kings 13.5cms
Note the high quality carving, all pieces in unique poses, one off commissioned set by exceptional carver taking over six months to create.
Note the high quality carving, all pieces in unique poses, one off commissioned set by exceptional carver taking over six months to create.
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