Best Chess Set Design Ever?

Sorry about my over the top diatribe in post # 213.It did not pertain to the overall subject.

It's Christmastime, it's allowed. I watched The Bishop's Wife and the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol with Alister Sim last night. Will probably watch It's a Wonderful Life for the umpteenth time tonight!

I opted for Steve McQueen in Bullitt.

The Bishop's Wife is my favorite Christmas movie of all time, even though my mother (who was 16 during filming) is actually in the Alister Sim Christmas Carol; she played the maid who admits Scrooge to his nephew's house at the end). Her appearance in that film will challenge my ability to watch it when she is gone. We also share a love of music together, so as a recovered audiophile, its going to be hard listening to music then too. Merry Christmas to all, and remember, in light of this thread's turns, Ahab's lament: "Gifted with high perception, I lack the low enjoying power, damned most subtly and malignantly, damned in the midst of paradise."

Oh, I forgot to mention that no one at Staunton Castle is currently replying to any form of solicitation. Let me know if you get a reply. Thanks! While I have you here, can I ask if anyone has ever tried to order a third side (when buying a set) in a different color to provide options in play? It seems to me 'doable' for these large factories who manufacture to order, but that doesn't mean that they will. 

It's a Wonderful Life (over acted by Jimmy Stewart) Christmas Story (still makes me laugh) and the live version of Mulan (too much Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but ok).
)

OK,thanks folks for not making me feel silly....There are a few nice guys here,for sure.

Well,since lockdown,my wife and i watch an afternoon movie,just after our 2.5 mile walk(don't care that it's cold....gotta' do it).

Today she told me she never saw Sparticus......I was shocked,so it's on tap for tomorrow.

I actually hit my chess books today....Almost done with "Simple Chess".

Best of the season to all.

"I am Smarty A$$!"

?

"I am Spartacus!"

I thought so.....At this hour my mind does not work too well.

Staunton Castle Update: I've been unable to get a reply from this vendor, so I haven't made the purchase yet. Their service provider reports that their voice mail is not set up and there is no response from either email address after several days. Hopefully its just a timing thing (though they are unlikely to be occupied by Christmas revelry) and everyone there is well, but they are located in Brampton, Ontario, an area that has been particularly hard-hit by Covid, so I will be patient before turning to another source. It is possible that the order 'would' process, but the purchase form lists delivery method as 'rest of world' for $2, with no delivery date. Despite coming highly recommended by members of this site, it all seems a little suspicious without confirmation of some sort. I let you know if things clear up.

Yeah...that's not working for me either; no one ever enjoins the conversation. I tried all means of communication again this morning to no avail. Hopefully it will sort itself out before I lose interest.

Just tried again to be sure...nothing! I'm going to chalk it up to Christmas, and give them the benefit of the doubt until the new year.

Same here with Chess House. No response for a return label going on 13 days now. 

Punjabi families do not celebrate Christmas, so it seems odd that they might miss out on what could be lucrative Christmas/Boxing Day sales. It seems to me though that a lot of chess supply companies have been making hay while Netflix's Queen's Gambit sun has been shining, so maybe they are just exhausted from making money! If it were just a question of stock, why would their computer keep telling me that I have left an item in my cart? Someone with more experience of these suppliers than I could maybe tell us if this failure to respond is typical, seasonal, or unusual.

I think  and hope things will clear up soon.In today's overall climate,especially with it being the holiday season,you have to give some folks the benefit of the doubt.

I hope things work out for you.

This whole chess boom reminds me of the tennis boom of the mid 1970's.

I had to meet my pals and we had to sign up for a court.Then wait about 3 hours to be able to play....At least you can play chess any time.

Apparently Amristar, a city in the state of Punjab in northern India where many of these chess sets are manufactured, has been very hard hit by Covid while the neighboring regions have not. That's bad news for them in the long term, and chess in the short term. I wish them well! 

I must say, the most gorgeous pieces I've ever seen were made in brass, "puddled" with a torch, by an Oklahoma Native American.  His "theme" was COWBOYS AND INDIANS, with 2 designs, one side were the cowboys, the other were indians, of course.  I remember the indian knights distinctly.  Those were braves in full regalia, holding lances, mounted bareback.  Their mounts were astounding-- one had raised its hind leg to "flick" a fly I suppose.  Very realistic.  Bishops  on the cowboy side were ol-time, bible-thumping preachers.

The artist was a self-taught artistic welder, using O2/acetylene and brazing rod.  He wanted $200 for the set, but I had little money at the time.  I do know who bought it, but I doubt he'd sell it now for less than a couple of thousand dollars and maybe not for that!