Chalk it up to the power of spray paint.
@magictwanger: Indeed it does, Here's the unveiling link today on the website although it's not available just yet but anyone interested can place a pre-order if so desired:
https://www.chessbazaar.com/reproduced-1940-soviet-club-chess-set-in-ebony-ivory-white-4-king.html
Does a chess set get much better looking than that? Aside from someone finding something not absolutely period correct or whatever,this is pretty much "The set" to own,in the Soviet category....Just my opinion.....CB had messaged me that mine has shipped,in Lacquered B/W,but I'm waiting to see how these come out before going overboard.....Hmm,I think I just did.-
Does a chess set get much better looking than that? Aside from someone finding something not absolutely period correct or whatever,this is pretty much "The set" to own,in the Soviet category....Just my opinion.....CB had messaged me that mine has shipped,in Lacquered B/W,but I'm waiting to see how these come out before going overboard.....Hmm,I think I just did.-
Considered as one of their high-end model sets the certificate of ownership is very cool as well. I'm glad they decided to make it available to all after my initial request was submitted and approved by their design team.
It is extremely nice to see both Chuck and Jorge get credit for this color change(for the better) on the CB site.....Nice job all the way around......btw.....as I'd mentioned in previous posts,I'll bet Chessbazaar won't be able to make these sets fast enough! Kinda; reminds me of when I first saw the new 2017 Honda Civic.I had the same reaction,though am fine with my little Nissan,ha.
Arrival of this set came this afternoon and beautifully crafted and finished in clear gloss lacquer for ebony and white gloss lacquer for boxwood. Absolutely stunning reproduction with a certificate of ownership from Chessbazaar. My certificate was number 15 but I believe the other antiqued sets merited smaller numbers of production that came before my custom finish order which prompted the production in white as well as the beautiful finish Chuck Grau had initially applied to his unfinished set. Well done Chess Bazaar especially the beautiful carvings of the knight pieces, stunning to behold in person. A few photos of the set on a Rachapados Ferrer wenge and sycamore 2 1/8" square gloss board.
Definitely "The God Father" of sets,from the pics I see in the room decor...ha! I can't think of anything other then simply stunning,especially on that board!
+1 @Horace. Yup, real nice in deed & thanx for the picshare. Now, if I could just scrape together $500! Oh, and shipping, taxes, board and box - make that $750.... sigh, when will i ever have a real job?!
Thank you gentlemen for the kind words, I will need a coffer for this great looking set to protect over time. Already have a few in mind to choose from but this will come later in due time.
ARGH! Bad timing!! I found a DHL attempted delivery notice for my 1940 Soviet B&W Lacquered set in my front door tonight,but I was out all day.....Introducing myself to my brand new grandson! They'll be back Monday.The kid will be around much longer!
ARGH! Bad timing!! I found a DHL attempted delivery notice for my 1940 Soviet B&W Lacquered set in my front door tonight,but I was out all day.....Introducing myself to my brand new grandson! They'll be back Monday.The kid will be around much longer!
DHL had surprised me as well coming a day earlier, same day it hit the New York Gateway Customs office on Thursday morning it was on the truck for delivery @ 11AM was originally slated for a Friday delivery and I received it @ 3:30PM in the afternoon. I was fortunate to be home all day on Thursday. You will be so satisfied with this new set once you open the contents. Congratulations on your newest family addition.
It's not been out long enough to assess whether the finish can rub off,but from my "extreme scrutinizing" of my recently obtained set it's not something I'd suspect......This set is literally a masterpiece!
To complement Mike's excellent presentation, here are the pieces I finished in white lacquer to emulate the set depicted in the Keres photo above, and in the other photos taken at the 1940 Soviet Championship. Interestingly, other pieces were used in the tournament, and these were used in what seems to have been a photo op. The set was seen earlier in the thirties in black and red resin, and Mike has posted about that elsewhere.
What color felt did you go with for this set Chuck, emerald green, green baize, red or other?
@ GoodnightMike: I believe there will be an unveiling of a new available color for this set launching tomorrow. By the looks of this ad it sure seems that the set will be made in a white flamboyant gloss finish. I had contacted chess bazaar inquiring if they could make a custom 1940 Soviet Club set in white/ivory flamboyant gloss finish seeming that they had another Staunton set in several colored gloss finishes in which one of them was white. They mentioned that production for that set was discontinued but they had some sets left over to sell this is why they are still advertised on the website. After several emails they agreed to make the custom set in the white gloss finish and I believe they were greatly influenced by the beautiful professional looking finish that Chuck Grau had done on his unfinished set shown previously in posts # 11 thru # 18. This probably was the determining factor that CB decided to begin production of this great reproduction of the 1940 Soviet Club set in a White Ivory gloss finish going forward. Great job Chuck! My set is already en-route to my residence and should arrive by week's end. Here's a look at the ad from CB released earlier this morning. A few preview photos of my set as well.