Good days and Good Knights

Truth is, I was never that fond of the original Jaques knights. I always thought they looked a bit misshapen and not all that attractive. When you look at the pictures below you have to squint real hard before you see something that even remotely resembles the head of a horse.

Much to my liking are some of the current traditional Staunton style knights from House of Staunton, The Chess Piece, and others. Here’s a gallery of what I consider some very hansom knights.

The Alban Knight from The Chess Piece (TCP)

The 1936 Nottingham knight from the House of Staunton (HOS)

The Camaratta Knight from HOS

The Chetak knight from TCP

The Collector knight from HOS

The Craftsman knight from HOS

Fantasy Knight from TCP

Compared to these, the New Cooke knight from HOS looks distinctly non-equine, but as they say, "to each his own."

Do you prefer modern, or more traditional knights? Knights that are plain, or highly detailed? Ones that are realistic, or more fanciful in their design?

What are some of your "good knights?" Post your favorites. Thanks!

I am not into Knight Art per say. Anything close & simular as a Knight is good enough for me. JMO

I'm partial to the (original) Collector knight from HOS.

The Alban, Chetak and Craftsman are good. Never liked the ones with a straight face.

Anything with teeth or a wide open mouth/lips scares the heck out of me.

Fear not, play on to Glory or Death.! Any Staunton style Knight will do.

They're not the handsomest of steeds, but sometimes 'character' triumphs over mere physical appearance. Especially in a world of ho-hum knights that all look pretty much the same, at least these stand out, and over time you might even find them oddly appealing - I have. The way you might feel about a mongrel dog or an old VW Microbus.

 Mechanics' Institute Knight (HOS)

Dubrovnik Knight (HOS)

Zagreb Knight (House of Chess)

Lou, I prefer the vintage older Knight carvings. Here's some carved ivory Knights pics .

But I also like many of the new replica sets with their nice Knight carvings. Here's some pics of Knights from my 1920's Jaques replica set

GNM, wow! What an interesting green color on those ivory knights. Martian green and ivory cream! That's quite a set. And the traditional repro knights look nicely carved and polished. I have a couple of gap-jawed knights in my collection. They always remind me of Mr. Ed (turns out, they spread peanut butter on his gums to get him to flap his trap). Yeah, I remember Mr. Ed, that's one of the curses of my advancing chronology -- remembering Mr. Ed.

Yes it was very stupid, but it ran a distant second to "My Mother, The Car" (1965-66) with Jerry Van Dyke and the voice of Ann Southern as (can you guess?), his mother, the car, which was a 1928 Porter Touring Car.

Now, for a vociferous duo from my Mr. Ed Gap-Jawed Knight Collection.

First up, the Fantasy Knight from The Chess Piece, in full oratorical flower.

Next, the Encore Knight from The Chess House, who looks a bit winded here, like he's been riden hard and put up wet.

.  i've always preferred the german knight. 

Just thankyou to whoever first mentioned Mr Ed.  I'm not well today and it unaccountably cheered me up.

Thatnks for the additional Knight pics Lou. the Encore Knight is Gorgeous. DOUBLE EXCLAIM!! Yep we go from dum to dummer with My Mother the Car. Its amazing it lasted 2 years.

LMAO, My Mother The Car was voted worse TV show after it went off the air back in the 60's. Of course there was a time it was easy to name all the sitcoms to come out since TV started. My Ed was right up there too.

Now I think they make more sitcoms in 1 year that bomb out than they did in 10 years on TV back in gthe 50's and early 60's. 

Deutschland, Deutschland über alles!

I'm probably being a bit anal but the original Jaques knights weren't designed to look like a horse. They were designed to look like the bust of Selene's horse from the Elgin Marbles. The New Cooke knight comes close but I think the Camaratta knight is probably the closest copy I've seen.

Wow the drop jaw and the ears, I see it, how true. I didn't know that fact. Is nice to know where it originated and how it morphed into what it is today.