Fancy chess sets...who has what?
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Oh and I also have a solid ivory set w/ 4.25" kings. the dark pieces are dyed red. It's in a custom case/board, and is absolutely gorgeous.
Journeyman wrote: I have one made from solid marble (pieces and board). I picked it up at an Afghan Bazzar when I was stationed over there. It only cost $10 so I bought three.
I picked one myself from the same place. Small world ain't it?
I like my StonerWare set. Pots leaf pawns and various bongs and pipes...
CJBas wrote: Oh and I also have a solid ivory set w/ 4.25" kings. the dark pieces are dyed red. It's in a custom case/board, and is absolutely gorgeous.
Hey, this is share and tell, no photo to share with the rest of the class?
Sorry. Both sets are in storage. One is kept out of sight for its own safety. the other is kept out of sight for my own safety.
I don't have any fancy chess sets. Only sets that you can play in official tournaments.
i would not mind having a set like this
CJBas wrote: Sorry. Both sets are in storage. One is kept out of sight for its own safety. the other is kept out of sight for my own safety.
Phunny.
Jun 1, 2008
0
#30
fantasy of the crystal. a piece a month forever. soo worth it. each piece has its own character story. i like it alot.
i got a set...it's simple...cheap...AND I'LL KICK YOUR MUGGLE BUTT ON IT! HA!
phishcake5 wrote:
This is the most creative and artistic set I've laid eyes on to date. Ok may be swayed a tad because I'm a bike junkie but just a tad as I can appreciate art of many kinds.
Guess I'm with stormcrown here. I'd never own such a set because I'd never play with it (to distracting). I have 4 sets all of which serve in different ways: one nice rosewood and boxwood set on maple and mahogany board for home play 2 plastic sets one for tournament play and the other for outdoor adventures and a little glass set I keep a puzzle set up on at all times--all staunton.
Its interesting to see the exotic sets and especially to hear the stories behind them though.
That is an impressive work of art.
i have only wood, staunton and glass. why need more?
it's about the playing, not the board.
There are, to my mind, two distinctly different types of chess set; theme (which are for display), and playing. One is not necessarily any prettier, or a finer work of art, than the other. My favorite set for playing is a Staunton-esque set I got in a curio shop in Panama about 25 years ago. It's not exactly Staunton, but so close to it that no one would have even the slightest problem telling the pieces. Tall and slim rather than broad at the base. Ebony and boxwood, so old that the boxwood is rather dark. In a wooden case/board proportionate in size and wood color. Cloth felted bottoms. Late 19th century.
It's what I take to the club. It does not have the look or feel of an expensive House of Staunton set by a long shot. And although no one at the club ever objected to playing with it, I expect someone at a tournament would find a reason to object, since they could.
Some of my fellow chess players at the club, after playing a game or two with it, have commented that it is a special set, unlike any they've ever seen before. It's nothing 'fancy' but it does have its own touch of elegance.
csceasar, tell us about your Staunton set. To be worth that it must be very nice.
Some nice sets there...
I picked up my 'fancy set' from the market in Jerusalem, Palestine. It a big chunky board with hand carved pieces made from olive tree wood. The knights are replaced by camels which I thought was rather novel.
It's not really practical to play with, and caused me some issues when I had to fly home as it used up almost half of the weight of my baggage allowance.
Still, it's damn cool and no 2 pawns are exactly the same due to it being hand made so there most definitely isn't another one like it in the world - perhaps similar, but not exact.
Nice little collectors item.
Jul 1, 2008
0
#38
My dad had a nice chess set when I was young. It was two intricate carved Roman legions I don't know what ever happened to it. I know that I broke some of the swords when was little. I have been looking for a set like it but I haven't had much luck. If any one finds any sets with Roman legions I would be interested to see them.
Jul 1, 2008
0
#39
The pieces in the front look a lot like the ones my dad had. Only they were carved
Hey Muggs:
I have a few sets most are Staunton standard just different sizes...one small wood set folds in half and looks like a closed book...another is huge and wood with a 6" King real nice set to play on. my fav is a regular wood set, king about 3 1/2" that i've had for about 35 years and the fourth is an asian designed folding box with the white sq as asian painted sences. but the pieces are carved soap stone in red and lime green just the heads of the pawns, bishops, K&Q the knights are horses and rooks castles...My ma found it at an estate sale.
I have a lot of chess set but the one that fits the 'fancy' bill is one I got in Panama about 25 years ago. It's made of plaster (I think), painted. The kings are King Nepture, the pawns are little fishes, knights are seahorses, etc.. I got it because it was the most godawfully UGLY chess I had ever seen in my life and I just couldn't pass it up.
It is absolutely HIDEOUS.
I've often been tempted to pull it out when faced with a really strong opponent. I figure he probably wouldn't be able to top laughing long enough to formulate a reasonable . . . but then I might not be able to either.