Mystery Set--Proto-Lardy?

I picked up this set because in the pictures it looked like it could be a Lardy or a proto-Lardy. According to the seller, her mother-in-law (who emigrated from Germany) bought it at FAO Schwarz in the fifties. And indeed, the set bears an FAOS label.

The profiles of all the pieces save the knights appear to be in the Lardy style. The knights, however, seem to me a lot more like the Indian knights of the HOS Player Series sets. What really threw me for a loop was when I was checking the box for a stamp Made in France, I instead found a stamp Made in Germany. It intrigued me that the set was lacquered in red and ivory, something I've yet to see in a Lardy set. If any of you could shed any light on this mystery, I'd be most appreciative.

The ivory lacquer is in poor condition, and is pealing. By contrast, the red lacquer is in very good condition. The red bishop has a lean characteristic of vintage Lardy sets. Either that or it's been out drinking with that extra red queen in my Chess Bazaar Dubrovnik.

Some close-ups of the knights...

The sticker and the stamp...

From the Chess Museum: "Proto-Lardy  Handy  boxwood set with age-mellowed varnish, weighted/felted, pre-WW2, kings 92 mm. Every knights head (two-pieces knights) is different, pointing to hand carving ... or a bit of devil-may care attitude in composing the sets!"

That is a very interesting set. It looks like a Lardy copy made in Germany perhaps.?

Thanks Kick, it intrigues me. If made in Germany, by whom? I think it most likely is a proto-Lardy turned and carved in France and remarketed through Germany. The Lardys appear under many labels in the US, UK, and according to the Chess Museum, Germany:

Lardy was not the only french chess piece maker to flood the world with down to middle market chess sets - Chavet and others spring to mind. Their success in export markets like the USA, Great Britain and Germany heralded the arrival of the ascendent Indian manufacturers who in turn started to take away Lardy's market from them in the 60ies and 70ies.  Most likely Lardy was one of the french turners who produced immense numbers of Regency chess sets as well  - and possibly other styles in chess sets along with sundry other turned wood games - over the last hundred years.  Material was mostly Jura boxwood, but maple and softwoods seems to have been used as well - and as it seems,  even horn, judging by a fine set owned by Guy Lyons.

Well, Kick, here's another clue from the Chess Museum:

Simple set, with 76 mm kings, mainly interesting because of the paper inlay in the box with the initials " C.W." - Carl Weible, a major German games wholeseller, family owned for several generations, still operating (see here).  Recently I have learned that the Bohemia company of Germany was provided with Lardy pattern irons and produced sets with them - this might be a Lardy by Bohemia!

We need a Chess Detective but, it looks like you are on to something. Its amazing how things get lost in the mists of time.!

Yes, Kick. It was Herr Mustard mit die Drehmashine in Munchen.

Thanks for the input, Morra. The knights in this set are more rounded, and the typical Lardy knights are more squared off and angular.

Thanks, Robert. The red immediately struck me as well. A red Lardy? Really? OMG. SMH. What do you think of the theory that the set actually was manufactured in Germany by Bohemia under license from Lardy and with Lardy's patterns?

Well, there is, arguably, the one depicted in the Chess Museum and above at Comment #7.