Anri Toriart Juvenile by Juan Ferrandiz Hand Painted Chess Set With New BoardThis beautiful chess set is one of the most beloved chess sets among collectors. It is a hand-painted chess set by Anri Toriart with chess pieces designed by Juan Ferrandiz. Juan Ferrandiz has long produced works that depict the innocence and purity of childhood.

Ferrandiz figurines are highly prized by collectors worldwide.Catalog item # 12607. Issued in 1970 and retired in 1974.King 3 3/4" with a base of 1 1/2"Pawn 2 3/4" with a base of 1"Chessmen in excellent condition in original box.

In 1912 Josef Anton Riffeser founded the ANRI Company, which he named using the first two letters of his first and last name. After World War I, where he was in a prisoner of war camp in Siberia, he formulated his plan for a woodcarving company. He created his own models which he distributed successfully, mainly in the Alpine region.When Anton Adolf Riffeser took over in 1945, he transformed the ANRI company, adopting a more industrial model which allowed for better quality control and distribution to new markets. He was followed by Ernst Riffeser who was able to enlist the services of many well known artists including Juan Ferràndiz, Sarah Kay and others.

The ANRI company today is run by Thomas Riffeser, and still remains in the same family.The wood art tradition has a long history in Val Gardena, Italy. The tradition of woodcarving dates back to the XVII century, when farmers started producing wood toys and utensils during the long winter season. The peasants than used to sell the items at spring markets. Part of the autonomous region Alto Adige/Southern Tyrol in Italy, the Val Gardena is known for its ancient romantic language, its skiing facilities - and its old tradition of woodcarving. The ANRI company's chess sets from the 1950s through the 1980s were produced in this region and have gained collectors status, thanks to their unparalleled quality.