This is the Botvinnik Flohr set recently released by House of Staunton. HOS's description of this set correctly links this set to the '33 match. The name should reflect the year to avoid confusion with the '35 set, which, in my opinion, has just as much claim to the Botvinnik and Flohr label as the '33 set. Note the curved rook, the short, hourglass stems of the king, queen, and bishop, and the pointed head of the bishop.
The ChessBazaar "1935" Botvinnik Flohr pieces. Describing these pieces as ones used in a 1935 match between Botvinnik and Flohr is mistaken, however. These pieces are from the '33 match, as CB recognizes in its description, but were not used in the Moscow tournament in '35. Note the same design elements as the HOS reproduction.
This is the iconic photo of the '33 Botvinnik Flohr match. When you enlarge it, it's clear that these are the pieces that ChessBazaar and House of Staunton have reproduced. HOS and CB got the basic design elements right, except perhaps the rook. The original rook appears to have straight tower walls, not curved ones like the modern reproductions.
Thanks Chuck for clarifying the confusion with the Botvinnik-Flohr sets.
Some have used this photo to criticize the authenticity of the modern reproductions, noting in particular the straight lines of the original rook shown here. It's true that this rook has straight lines, but this photo is not of the '33 match or the pieces used in '33. It's from the Moscow Tournament of 1936.
This close-up is often used to illustrate the design of "Botvinnik Flohr" pieces. And it does--not the ones used in their '33 match, however, but in their '35 game and in the historic tournament in which they tied for first place. Note the flat topped bishops and the straight lines of the rook.
Here's the photo that was blown up in the previous frame. Flohr is observing Botvinnik playing an opponent whose left elbow is seen resting on the table. Other tables can be seen behind Flohr. This photo is not of their '33 match, but of the '35 tournament.
I mentioned that I think the '35 set has as much claim to use the name "Botvinnik Flohr" as the '33 set. Here's why. Flohr and Botvinnik tied for first among a magnificent field that included Emmanuel Lasker who finished third, and Jose Raul Capablanca who finished fourth. They drew their game. But whereas we would be hard-pressed to find photos of the '33 set being used in other tournaments or matches, the '35 set is perhaps the most iconic Soviet design ever produced. It served as a First Level tournament set from 1935 to 1960, and it can be found throughout the photographic record of the period. Here is Bronstein playing with them at the '56 Moscow Olympiad.
Bobby Fischer and Tigran Petrosian played blitz with them in '58 at the Moscow Central Chess Club.
An actual First Level Tournament version of the '35 set from the fifties or sixties in my collection.
Of course, not all reproductions First Level Soviet sets are modern. The Soviets reproduced many of their tournament sets for the chess loving public. Here is one from my collection with all the basic design elements of the '33 set, including the straight tower walls on the rooks, albeit more steeply angled here.
And here is a Soviet reproduction of the '35 set for the chess-playing public.
In conclusion, two sets rightfully lay claim to the names of Botvinnik and Flohr: that used in their 1933 match, and reproduced currently by ChessBazaar and House of Staunton; and the iconic set of the 1935 Moscow Tournament won by Flohr and Botvinnik. We honor neither by confusing them. Let's keep them straight, and, refer to them by their proper year, '33 or '35, or as Mike Ladzinski has done, refer to the '33 and '35 sets as Botvinnik Flohr I & II respectively.
Thanks Chuck for clarifying the confusion with the Botvinnik-Flohr sets.
Thanks, Mike. Having contributed to the confusion, it's the least I could do.
Your attention to detail is very much appreciated, cgrau.
Thanks, Up!
Addendum
There are two contemporary reproductions of the '35 set, but neither links the pieces to Botvinnik, Flohr, or the '35 Moscow tournament.
Chess Bazaar offers what it calls the 1940-50 Reproduced (Soviet Era) Russian Series Chess Set Revised.
The recent introduction of House of Staunton's "Botvinnik Flohr Luxury Chess Pieces" has brought to light some confusion over just what a "Botvinnik Flohr" set is. Previously, ChessBazaar had released a similar design which it calls the "Botvinnik Flohr 1935 Reproduced Chess Pieces."
In fact, two different designs have enjoyed the title, and both are directly linked to Botvinnik and Flohr. The first design, reproduced by both ChessBazaar and House of Staunton, is the set used by Botvinnik and Flohr in their 1933 match. The second design originates with the 1935 Moscow Tournament, in which Flohr and Botvinnik tied for first place and drew their game. The designs are quite different, and one should not be used to criticize the historical authenticity of the other. We need to distinguish the '33 set from the '35 set and do so in how we refer to them. The notes to the photos that follow tell the story and unravel the confusion...