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Kim's Chess Collection
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German and Austrian Wood
Vintage German caricature folk chess set
Vintage German caricature folk chess set finely carved from fruitwood.
One side natural the other size stained, very good patina.
This charming set features pawns with individual faces some with pipes. Kings 12.5cms tall.
One side natural the other size stained, very good patina.
This charming set features pawns with individual faces some with pipes. Kings 12.5cms tall.
Bavarian Chess Set, Early 20th century
Bavarian Chess Set from Early 20th century.
One side stained dark brown, the other side natural.
All the chessmen individually carved in folk dress, knights as rearing horse, rooks as shooting platforms or look-outs, pawns as rural workers, each piece with the number 5 carved on the underside of the bases, the king 12cm high. All 32 pieces are different.
Another great set from Ciaran Rochford
One side stained dark brown, the other side natural.
All the chessmen individually carved in folk dress, knights as rearing horse, rooks as shooting platforms or look-outs, pawns as rural workers, each piece with the number 5 carved on the underside of the bases, the king 12cm high. All 32 pieces are different.
Another great set from Ciaran Rochford
German Fairy Tale Chess, 1920
A German fairy tale chess set ca. 1920. King 11 cm.
German Arminus Set, Circa 1900
Antique cased German boldly carved wood 'Arminus' chess set with spectacular knights and winged helmet warriors. King 12 cm, Circa 1900. Came with custom case.
Austrian Wood set
Austrian, early 20th century. King 13cm. All pieces are different.
German Figural Chess Set, ca. 1914
A unique German figural folk art chess set with a king size of ca. 13.5 cm. The pieces are carved from a rather light wood, one side ebonized. Some pawns were replaced, the replacements made with some kind of compound matching in colour.
The kings resemble the Wilhelm II. (1859-1941, who was King of Prussia and German Emperor from 1888 to 1918). The faces show the particularly accentuated beard of Wilhelm II. and the crown resembles the Prussian crown, which was designed by Emil Doepler and made by the Prussian court jeweller Hugo Schaper upon order by the Prussian Parliament in 1889. The queens as female figures wearing a coronet. The rooks as tall turrets, the knights as carved horse heads. The bishops are shown as officers with steel helmets and long coats wearing a pistol holster on a belt. The pawns as soldiers wearing steel helmets, coats and backpacks with a gun over their right shoulder.
The military appearance of the bishops and pawns together with the kings depicting Emperor Wilhelm give a clear indication that this set was made during the First World War, i.e. between 1914 and 1918.
Description and photos by Holger Langer
The kings resemble the Wilhelm II. (1859-1941, who was King of Prussia and German Emperor from 1888 to 1918). The faces show the particularly accentuated beard of Wilhelm II. and the crown resembles the Prussian crown, which was designed by Emil Doepler and made by the Prussian court jeweller Hugo Schaper upon order by the Prussian Parliament in 1889. The queens as female figures wearing a coronet. The rooks as tall turrets, the knights as carved horse heads. The bishops are shown as officers with steel helmets and long coats wearing a pistol holster on a belt. The pawns as soldiers wearing steel helmets, coats and backpacks with a gun over their right shoulder.
The military appearance of the bishops and pawns together with the kings depicting Emperor Wilhelm give a clear indication that this set was made during the First World War, i.e. between 1914 and 1918.
Description and photos by Holger Langer
Oktoberfest Themed Chess Set, first half of the 20th century
This is German Oktoberfest Themed Chess Set Possibly Erzgebirge.
Wooden hand carved hand painted polychrome figurines.
King Height 4.75in
Period: probably first half of the 20th century.
Wooden hand carved hand painted polychrome figurines.
King Height 4.75in
Period: probably first half of the 20th century.
Erzgebirge mid 20th century
A handcarved wooden chess set from the Erzgebirge area, probably mid 20th century. There is a good chance that this is a one off. Every piece is different. King size is 12 cm.
This set is from Holger Langer collection.
This set is from Holger Langer collection.
Black Forest Set, mid 20th century
Here is an interesting German wooden set "black forest" from the mid 20th century. Came with the original wooden box.
King is 12 cm.
King is 12 cm.
Vintage German Figural Chess Set from early 20th Century
Vintage German Figural Chess Set from early 20th Century.
Made from a light wood probably Linden. featuring the lord and lady of the castle, the laufer (runner) and the pawns depicting individual trades eg farmer, laborer, inn keeper and the shopkeeper.
King 10cms.
From Ciaran Rochford collection.
Made from a light wood probably Linden. featuring the lord and lady of the castle, the laufer (runner) and the pawns depicting individual trades eg farmer, laborer, inn keeper and the shopkeeper.
King 10cms.
From Ciaran Rochford collection.
German Figural Chess Set, ca. 1920
An unusual figural folk art chess set with a king size of 8.2 cm. The pieces are carved from wood, one side predominantly in red, the other side predominantly in black.
The kings are depicted as wealthy citizens or aristocrats in a long coat with a double row of buttons and a tall top hat (somewhat reminiscent of kings in "Capitalist" themed chess sets). The queens wear a ball gown as well as a 1920s-style tiara on their heads. The bishops are depicted as German "Läufer", i.e. runners. They wear a long pointed cap sticking out backwards. The knights are depicted as horses' heads, diagonally shifted on an otherwise square base. The rooks are shown as high fortified towers with strongly pronounced battlement. The pawns are also depicted as running figures wearing a cap hanging down at one side.
The style of the bishops identifies this set as a German set. The carving style is reminding of hand carved toys from the Erzgebirge region in the South East of Germany.
Description and photos by Holger Langer.
The kings are depicted as wealthy citizens or aristocrats in a long coat with a double row of buttons and a tall top hat (somewhat reminiscent of kings in "Capitalist" themed chess sets). The queens wear a ball gown as well as a 1920s-style tiara on their heads. The bishops are depicted as German "Läufer", i.e. runners. They wear a long pointed cap sticking out backwards. The knights are depicted as horses' heads, diagonally shifted on an otherwise square base. The rooks are shown as high fortified towers with strongly pronounced battlement. The pawns are also depicted as running figures wearing a cap hanging down at one side.
The style of the bishops identifies this set as a German set. The carving style is reminding of hand carved toys from the Erzgebirge region in the South East of Germany.
Description and photos by Holger Langer.
German "Silhouette" Chess Set, ca. 1900-1920
This is a somewhat unusual chess set, in which the pieces are silhouettes of a medieval court. The pieces are fretworked from plywood. On the underside are pale green thin felts similar to those used in southern Germany and Austria in the late 19th or early 20th century. The kings have a height of 12 cm and are depicted with sceptre and orb. The queens are court ladies with long braids. The bishops are depicted as runners, which indicates a German origin, as this is the literal meaning of the term "Läufer" used in German. The knights as rearing horses. The rooks are relatively small and depicted as a silhouette of a fortified tower.
The type of sawing resembles the handicrafts from the Ore Mountain and Nuremberg region, the German strongholds of toy production in the late 19th century. Similar patterns were used, for example, for the production of wooden Christmas ornaments. A most unusual and rare type of chess set.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the description and the photos.
The type of sawing resembles the handicrafts from the Ore Mountain and Nuremberg region, the German strongholds of toy production in the late 19th century. Similar patterns were used, for example, for the production of wooden Christmas ornaments. A most unusual and rare type of chess set.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the description and the photos.
German bust figural chess set, 1950s
An interesting and fairly unusual wooden bust figural chess set. Probably German from 1950-1960s, king just over 4" (10.5cm).
With my special thanks to Holger Langer !!
With my special thanks to Holger Langer !!
"Running Bishop" Chess Set, 1960s
This is the famous German "Running Bishop" chess set. It's made in the 1960's -1970's. and is completely carved / whittled by hand in figural pattern where the bishop is a running man. In German the word for bishop is Laufer which means Runner, so in these sets bishop is always running. Each piece is made from 2 pieces of soft wood (linden?). Bases are turned on lathe while the upper parts are completely carved by hand with excellent detail. Each piece has its own facial features. One side is in natural color, the other side is stained brown.
Chessmen are unweighted but offer good stability. Bases are bottomed with green felt. The set comes with original storage case. Pieces are stored on different levels with individual position for each one.
Chessmen are unweighted but offer good stability. Bases are bottomed with green felt. The set comes with original storage case. Pieces are stored on different levels with individual position for each one.
German "Toy" Chess Set, mid 19th century
Small German "Toy" Chess Set in the tradition of the Nuremberg and Ore Mountain toy makers, probably dating to mid 19th century. Pieces made from limewood or fruitwood, the two sides distinguished by white and black colouring. Kings and Queens with painted details to the faces and tiered galleries, Rooks as simple turrets, Knights as carved horses' heads on raised galleries, Bishops with painted details to the faces and caps, one white bishop bearing a feather finial, while the other feathers are lost. Pawns of baluster outline. King 6,2 cm.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the description and the photos.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the description and the photos.
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