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Playing Sets and Reproductions
Pepys by Oleg Raikis, 2021
This is a reproduction of the famous 19th century original Pepys set. Its Anglo-Indian design is featuring abstract designs atop complex foliate pedestals. Oleg made a few Pepys sets from Mammoth Ivory, this set is the only one made from boxwood.
The Pepys set is one of the most impressive designs with the magnificent workmanship of an Anglo-Indian that has evolved to become a more decorative and artistic chess set than conventional. These sets were highly popular and an example of the pure handcraftsmanship in the 19th century.
The King stands a massive 7-0” tall with a 1-3/4″ diameter base.
The Pepys set is one of the most impressive designs with the magnificent workmanship of an Anglo-Indian that has evolved to become a more decorative and artistic chess set than conventional. These sets were highly popular and an example of the pure handcraftsmanship in the 19th century.
The King stands a massive 7-0” tall with a 1-3/4″ diameter base.
Macao metal chess set
This is an unusual Macao metal chess set. Usually those sets are ivory, this one is metal. One site painted Green the other white-ivory. Very ornate. The royal pieces, bishops and pawns carved with human heads, the European king and queen portrayed as Carlos I of Portugal and Marie Amelia, versus orientals. Knights as horses heads, rooks as turrets with sentry huts and flags, all on baluster knopped stems carved with floral ornament and stiff-leaf bands.
Avant Garde Staunton Chessmen by Frank Camaratta
The Avant Garde Staunton Chessmen are the newest member of the Camaratta Signature Line of chessmen. Tired of the same boring variations on the Staunton design? Looking for something original – a new paradigm perhaps? Then here is a refreshing approach to brighten your chessic landscape. Meet the Avant Garde Staunton Chessmen. With their graceful, up-swept stems, piece-to-piece design consistency, mold-breaking Knights and a radical new King’s finial, these pieces make a statement like no other set of chessmen can. The chessmen are available in several different wood combinations. Shown here are the chess pieces in Tulip Wood and Rosewood. A set of Boxwood pieces are shown for clarity.
To cater to your creative side, this set of 38 chessmen is delivered with a second set of Queens, two distinct Knight styles and three interchangeable Kings’ finials. One steed is a variation on the more classic Knight, the other is simply a step beyond. Then there are those extra Kings finials. Apart from the more traditional Formee cross and Eastern ball finials, here is an entirely new concept, a fountain flowing gracefully into a Maltese cross. Each set of Avant Garde Staunton Chessmen has a full Club-size King, 4-1/2” tall, with a 1-7/8” diameter base, and is designed for play on chessboard with 2-3/8” or 2-1/2” squares.
To cater to your creative side, this set of 38 chessmen is delivered with a second set of Queens, two distinct Knight styles and three interchangeable Kings’ finials. One steed is a variation on the more classic Knight, the other is simply a step beyond. Then there are those extra Kings finials. Apart from the more traditional Formee cross and Eastern ball finials, here is an entirely new concept, a fountain flowing gracefully into a Maltese cross. Each set of Avant Garde Staunton Chessmen has a full Club-size King, 4-1/2” tall, with a 1-7/8” diameter base, and is designed for play on chessboard with 2-3/8” or 2-1/2” squares.
1929 Barcelona Joc Catalan Chess Set (Chessbazaar)
Reproduced 1929 Barcelona Joc Catalan chess set in bud rosewood and boxwood. King size is 4.3", all pieces weighted
Citing from the chess-museum website:
"The Catalan Set (Joc Catalan) is a quite fascinating design dating back to the heady 20-ies when Barcelona was almost boiling over with the intensive economy and the artistic explosion known as Art Nouveau. Although numerous architects, painters, writers, sculptor, musicians, actors and composers distinguished themselves in those days, the preeminent name - and through his arts and crafts movement - father figure Antonio Gaudi
was the only one who achieved international acclaim and fame.
This set was presented in 1930 at the Barcelona International chess tournament - won by Tartakower - as "Catalan Set" - implying the newly emerging Catalan Nation had to have their own style of chess pieces! The set owed its existence to a crafts business called Casa Baqué, situated close to the Cathedral. Unfortunately shortly after the emerging Civil War cut short all Catalan cultural movements and activities, including chess - how many sets were made originally , is not known, but it can't have been a lot, and of those - close to nothing has remained."
Fantastic set produced by Chessbazaar.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the description and the photos.
Citing from the chess-museum website:
"The Catalan Set (Joc Catalan) is a quite fascinating design dating back to the heady 20-ies when Barcelona was almost boiling over with the intensive economy and the artistic explosion known as Art Nouveau. Although numerous architects, painters, writers, sculptor, musicians, actors and composers distinguished themselves in those days, the preeminent name - and through his arts and crafts movement - father figure Antonio Gaudi
was the only one who achieved international acclaim and fame.
This set was presented in 1930 at the Barcelona International chess tournament - won by Tartakower - as "Catalan Set" - implying the newly emerging Catalan Nation had to have their own style of chess pieces! The set owed its existence to a crafts business called Casa Baqué, situated close to the Cathedral. Unfortunately shortly after the emerging Civil War cut short all Catalan cultural movements and activities, including chess - how many sets were made originally , is not known, but it can't have been a lot, and of those - close to nothing has remained."
Fantastic set produced by Chessbazaar.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the description and the photos.
Northern Upright Vintage Reproduction
Staunton Castle proudly present their very latest, well-researched and precisely carved reproduction – the Northern Upright or Edinburgh Upright chess set.
This was a popular precursor of the Staunton pattern and is thought to have partly inspired the first Staunton design.
all pieces have slender and curvaceous stems with shapely half-dome bases,
the King is 5” tall and the overall proportions of the set are faithful to the original, with a pleasing gradation of height from the King down to the Castle,
the King and Queen are both imposing and elegant with flared columns and the same shape of top finial,
the Bishops have tall split mitres and fulsome tulip heads,
the Knights are finely hand-carved with slender columns and asymmetric manes,
the Castles have a very distinctive shape and have curved tops with four crenellations,
the Pawns have a balanced geometry with stable wide bases and spherical heads.
The chessmen are all felted and generously weighted ensuring balance and stability.
This was a popular precursor of the Staunton pattern and is thought to have partly inspired the first Staunton design.
all pieces have slender and curvaceous stems with shapely half-dome bases,
the King is 5” tall and the overall proportions of the set are faithful to the original, with a pleasing gradation of height from the King down to the Castle,
the King and Queen are both imposing and elegant with flared columns and the same shape of top finial,
the Bishops have tall split mitres and fulsome tulip heads,
the Knights are finely hand-carved with slender columns and asymmetric manes,
the Castles have a very distinctive shape and have curved tops with four crenellations,
the Pawns have a balanced geometry with stable wide bases and spherical heads.
The chessmen are all felted and generously weighted ensuring balance and stability.
Reproduced 1849 Original Staunton
Chess Pieces Reproduced 1849 Original Staunton Pattern in Lacquer Finished Painted Crimson & Ivory White - 4.5" King.
Material: Painted Crimson Boxwood / Ivory White Boxwood
Dimensions:
King 4.52" (115 mm) 1.88" (48 mm)
Queen 3.50" (89 mm) 1.69" (43 mm)
Bishop 3.03" (77 mm) 1.69" (43 mm)
Knight 2.79" (71 mm) 1.69" (43 mm)
Rook 2.48" (63 mm) 1.69" (43 mm)
Pawn 1.96" (50 mm) 1.33" (34 mm)
Manufacturer: Chessbazaar, India
Material: Painted Crimson Boxwood / Ivory White Boxwood
Dimensions:
King 4.52" (115 mm) 1.88" (48 mm)
Queen 3.50" (89 mm) 1.69" (43 mm)
Bishop 3.03" (77 mm) 1.69" (43 mm)
Knight 2.79" (71 mm) 1.69" (43 mm)
Rook 2.48" (63 mm) 1.69" (43 mm)
Pawn 1.96" (50 mm) 1.33" (34 mm)
Manufacturer: Chessbazaar, India
Zagreb Chess Pieces set Burnt
Chessncrafts' BURNT RUSSIAN ZAGREB chess set depicts Art & is the most sophisticated chess set in the ARTISTIC SETS COLLECTION made of premium WOOD - SPECIAL BURNING TECHNIQUE USED.
Speciality of this set is the finest detailing of knight whether its the mane, hair falling on the head OR the expression given its jut pure work of art done by hand by MASTER CRAFTSMEN.
Finely crafted knights with gorgeous king adds to the beauty of these chess pieces and durability will last for years and years to come. These chess pieces are known for their heirloom quality. If you really love chess, you deserve this chess set.
CHESS PIECES DETAILS:
WOOD USED: DARK: BURNT BOXWOOD & LIGHT: NATURAL BOXWOOD
DESIGN: RUSSIAN ZAGREB- BROAD BASE & HEAVY WEIGHT- Special Detailing of Knight.
POLISH: FINE GLOSSY LACQUERED TO MAKE THEM STAND OUT.
WEIGHT: HEAVY WEIGHTED, TOTAL WEIGHT: 1210 Grams (2.7 lbs) For best playing experience .
CARVING:EGYPTION CARVING ON ALL BASE DONE BY SPECIAL CRAFTSMEN.
DIMENSIONS:
King: HEIGHT: 4" (98 mm) , BASE: 1.6" (42 mm)
Queen: HEIGHT: 3.2"(82mm), BASE: 1.5"(39mm)
Bishop: HEIGHT: 3.1"(79mm), BASE: 1.4"(36mm)
Knight: HEIGHT: 2.8"(70mm), BASE: 1.4"(36mm)
Rook: HEIGHT: 2.3"(58mm), BASE: 1.4"(36mm)
Pawn: HEIGHT: 2.0"(51mm), BASE: 1.2"(30mm)
Speciality of this set is the finest detailing of knight whether its the mane, hair falling on the head OR the expression given its jut pure work of art done by hand by MASTER CRAFTSMEN.
Finely crafted knights with gorgeous king adds to the beauty of these chess pieces and durability will last for years and years to come. These chess pieces are known for their heirloom quality. If you really love chess, you deserve this chess set.
CHESS PIECES DETAILS:
WOOD USED: DARK: BURNT BOXWOOD & LIGHT: NATURAL BOXWOOD
DESIGN: RUSSIAN ZAGREB- BROAD BASE & HEAVY WEIGHT- Special Detailing of Knight.
POLISH: FINE GLOSSY LACQUERED TO MAKE THEM STAND OUT.
WEIGHT: HEAVY WEIGHTED, TOTAL WEIGHT: 1210 Grams (2.7 lbs) For best playing experience .
CARVING:EGYPTION CARVING ON ALL BASE DONE BY SPECIAL CRAFTSMEN.
DIMENSIONS:
King: HEIGHT: 4" (98 mm) , BASE: 1.6" (42 mm)
Queen: HEIGHT: 3.2"(82mm), BASE: 1.5"(39mm)
Bishop: HEIGHT: 3.1"(79mm), BASE: 1.4"(36mm)
Knight: HEIGHT: 2.8"(70mm), BASE: 1.4"(36mm)
Rook: HEIGHT: 2.3"(58mm), BASE: 1.4"(36mm)
Pawn: HEIGHT: 2.0"(51mm), BASE: 1.2"(30mm)
Isle of Lewis Chess Set
The Lewis Chessmen are the most important chess pieces in history. Ever since the ivory pieces were discovered sometime before 1831 on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, these kings, queens, knights, rooks, bishops, and pawns carved from walrus tusk and whale tooth have long fascinated us due to their exquisite craftsmanship, unusually evocative faces, and strikingly Norse character.
Today 82 of the 93 known pieces are in the British Museum, and the remaining 11 are at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Despite their fame, some key details about them remain unknown. Here are 12 facts we recently learned about the Viking ivory chessman. Most are found in Nancy Marie Brown’s new book Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made Them, which draws upon Icelandic sagas, archaeology, history, and forensics to locate the chessman in a time in history when the Norse ruled the North Atlantic.
This is an exquisitely made reproduction of the Isle of Lewis Chess Set. This is renowned as being one of the oldest chess sets in the world, dating from as early as the 12th century and which featured in countless movies including the Harry Potter franchise. The crowned King carries a broadsword and is flanked by pieces that represent medieval Knights and Bishops. The Rook is represented by a sentry armed with a sword, carrying an engraved shield.
Handmade in Ireland by O'Gowna Studio.
Today 82 of the 93 known pieces are in the British Museum, and the remaining 11 are at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Despite their fame, some key details about them remain unknown. Here are 12 facts we recently learned about the Viking ivory chessman. Most are found in Nancy Marie Brown’s new book Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made Them, which draws upon Icelandic sagas, archaeology, history, and forensics to locate the chessman in a time in history when the Norse ruled the North Atlantic.
This is an exquisitely made reproduction of the Isle of Lewis Chess Set. This is renowned as being one of the oldest chess sets in the world, dating from as early as the 12th century and which featured in countless movies including the Harry Potter franchise. The crowned King carries a broadsword and is flanked by pieces that represent medieval Knights and Bishops. The Rook is represented by a sentry armed with a sword, carrying an engraved shield.
Handmade in Ireland by O'Gowna Studio.
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