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Oleg Raikis
Oleg Raikis has designed and created many chess sets. They combine the creative imaginative skill of a master craftsman with the understanding of the practical requirements needed for a set of chessmen to be acceptable as an efficient tool for an ancient Royal game.
Circus by Oleg Raikis, 2010
Chess set Circus 2010 by Oleg Raikis. Mammoth ivory, natural color of ivory are white and brown, Combined technique. King 11cm.
The Chess pieces are hand carved and signed “Raikis” by crafted by renowned Mammoth artist and sculptor Oleg Raikis. Raikis’ chess carvings are internationally recognized and are highly prized and sought-after by chess collectors Worldwide.
The Mammoth byproducts are excavated from the permafrost of the Siberian tundra, which the woolly mammoth inhabited for more than 160,000 years. During the last ice age, the mammoth went extinct as the direct result of rapidly plummeting temperatures. The dry, cold environment of Siberia combined with the massive sheets of ice from the ice age created the ideal environment for the preservation of Mammoth byproducts. The woolly Mammoths have been entombed under the Siberian permafrost ever since, waiting to be unearthed.
For more than 2,000 years, Mammoth tusks have been traded and remain a highly prized commodity across the world. While that demand for the Mammoth byproducts has always been higher than its supply, it began its steep rise when the international ivory ban was enacted. This agreement banned all sales of new Elephant or Walrus Ivory, in an effort to protect the animals from extinction. As a result, Mammoth became the only type of animal-based ivory that is exempt from the international trade restrictions. Over the past few years, the price of Mammoth tusks have more than tripled, due largely to the unprecedented demand for luxury goods from such emerging countries as India and China. This trend is expected to continue. Less than one percent of the Mammoth byproducts harvested are of suitable quality for the manufacturing of Chess pieces, thus adding the production costs and long-term value.
The Chess pieces are hand carved and signed “Raikis” by crafted by renowned Mammoth artist and sculptor Oleg Raikis. Raikis’ chess carvings are internationally recognized and are highly prized and sought-after by chess collectors Worldwide.
The Mammoth byproducts are excavated from the permafrost of the Siberian tundra, which the woolly mammoth inhabited for more than 160,000 years. During the last ice age, the mammoth went extinct as the direct result of rapidly plummeting temperatures. The dry, cold environment of Siberia combined with the massive sheets of ice from the ice age created the ideal environment for the preservation of Mammoth byproducts. The woolly Mammoths have been entombed under the Siberian permafrost ever since, waiting to be unearthed.
For more than 2,000 years, Mammoth tusks have been traded and remain a highly prized commodity across the world. While that demand for the Mammoth byproducts has always been higher than its supply, it began its steep rise when the international ivory ban was enacted. This agreement banned all sales of new Elephant or Walrus Ivory, in an effort to protect the animals from extinction. As a result, Mammoth became the only type of animal-based ivory that is exempt from the international trade restrictions. Over the past few years, the price of Mammoth tusks have more than tripled, due largely to the unprecedented demand for luxury goods from such emerging countries as India and China. This trend is expected to continue. Less than one percent of the Mammoth byproducts harvested are of suitable quality for the manufacturing of Chess pieces, thus adding the production costs and long-term value.
Theater by Oleg Raikis, 2022
The set represents characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet.
The king is Shakespeare. The queen is Ophelia. The bishop is the ghost of Hamlet's father, hence the face is empty. The knights are Jester Yorick. The pawns are theatrical masks, each mask has a different expression.
This extraordinary set was created by noted sculptor and Carver Oleg Raikis. His chess carvings are internationally recognized and are highly prized and sought-after by chess collectors Worldwide.
This is the only copy of this set in wood. King 11.5 cm. The kings are signed by Oleg.
The king is Shakespeare. The queen is Ophelia. The bishop is the ghost of Hamlet's father, hence the face is empty. The knights are Jester Yorick. The pawns are theatrical masks, each mask has a different expression.
This extraordinary set was created by noted sculptor and Carver Oleg Raikis. His chess carvings are internationally recognized and are highly prized and sought-after by chess collectors Worldwide.
This is the only copy of this set in wood. King 11.5 cm. The kings are signed by Oleg.
Ballet by Oleg Raikis, 2023
A chess set of graceful figural Chess Pieces representing the Ballerino and Ballerinas in various Ballet poses. These Chess Pieces feature figurines in various ballet poses surmounted atop contrasting bokaut and stained wood stands. The workmanship and detail found in each of these sculptures is amazing.
The Chess pieces are hand carved and signed by renowned sculptor Oleg Raikis. Raikis’ chess carvings are internationally recognized and are highly prized and sought-after by chess collectors Worldwide.
The king’s height is 14 cm.
The Chess pieces are hand carved and signed by renowned sculptor Oleg Raikis. Raikis’ chess carvings are internationally recognized and are highly prized and sought-after by chess collectors Worldwide.
The king’s height is 14 cm.
Knights by Oleg Raikis, 2022
The Knights chess set was first created in 1998. The set was designed in a Gothic style. It was first presented at the CCI Meeting in Boca Raton, Florida.
The Knights set was featured in the annual collection "Best of the Best" by the American magazine "Robb Report", as well as in the Russian version of this publication.
This masterpiece was hand carved and signed by renowned artist and sculptor Oleg Raikis
Raikis’ chess carvings are internationally recognized and are highly prized and sought-after by chess collectors Worldwide.
King size is 11 cm.
The Knights set was featured in the annual collection "Best of the Best" by the American magazine "Robb Report", as well as in the Russian version of this publication.
This masterpiece was hand carved and signed by renowned artist and sculptor Oleg Raikis
Raikis’ chess carvings are internationally recognized and are highly prized and sought-after by chess collectors Worldwide.
King size is 11 cm.
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.
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.
Animalier by Oleg Raikis, 2022
This Animalier chess set was created by noted sculptor and Carver Oleg Raikis. Raikis’ chess carvings are internationally recognized and are highly prized and sought-after by chess collectors Worldwide.
The White chess pieces are Mammoths crafted from boxwood.
The dark pieces are Dinosaurs, the bases are crafted from Bokaut, a dense, exotic wood indigenous to Russia and East Asia. The dark bases are left natural, showing the beautiful, natural occurring light and dark grain of this magnificent wood.
A similar set from Mammoth Ivory was sold on Bonhams auction in 2008 - https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16386/lot/173/
The White chess pieces are Mammoths crafted from boxwood.
The dark pieces are Dinosaurs, the bases are crafted from Bokaut, a dense, exotic wood indigenous to Russia and East Asia. The dark bases are left natural, showing the beautiful, natural occurring light and dark grain of this magnificent wood.
A similar set from Mammoth Ivory was sold on Bonhams auction in 2008 - https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16386/lot/173/
Roman Imperial by Oleg Raiks, 2022
This is Imperial Roman Figural Chess Set. Each piece is raised on either a dark or a light colored wooden column. The dark columns are made of very rare and beautiful wood – bokaut, the pawns are Eagles (one of the symbols of the Roman Empire). The light columns are made of walnut, the pawns are plebs. Oleg says that to him, this set represents the Glory and the Shame of the Roman Empire
The emperor's bust for both sides is clearly modeled upon portraits of emperor Antoninus Pius, whereas the "bishops" are clearly taken from portraits of the emperor Trajan.
This is the only copy of this set made from wood, the rest are mammoth ivory. The kings are signed by the sculptor.
King size is 13 cm.
The emperor's bust for both sides is clearly modeled upon portraits of emperor Antoninus Pius, whereas the "bishops" are clearly taken from portraits of the emperor Trajan.
This is the only copy of this set made from wood, the rest are mammoth ivory. The kings are signed by the sculptor.
King size is 13 cm.
Flowers by Oleg Raikis, 2023
A chess set “Flower style” is a transformation of the classic “Staunton” into florist forms on the motifs of Art Nouveau, which was very popular in the high society between 1890 and 1910.
The White chess pieces are crafted from boxwood. The dark pieces are crafted from Bokaut, a very rare, dense, exotic wood indigenous to Russia and East Asia. The dark pieces show the beautiful, natural occurring light and dark grain of this magnificent wood.
The Chess pieces are hand carved and signed by renowned artist and sculptor Oleg Raikis.
The king’s height is 12,5 cm.
The White chess pieces are crafted from boxwood. The dark pieces are crafted from Bokaut, a very rare, dense, exotic wood indigenous to Russia and East Asia. The dark pieces show the beautiful, natural occurring light and dark grain of this magnificent wood.
The Chess pieces are hand carved and signed by renowned artist and sculptor Oleg Raikis.
The king’s height is 12,5 cm.
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