Help with chess set, please.

Hello!

My father served in the US Army and purchased a chess set while he was stationed in Afghanistan a few years ago. He has since passed away and I ended up with the set. I believe the board is solid marble because it weighs about 10 pounds. All the pieces look to be made from the same material used for the squares, and I believe they are hand carved.

However, there are two extra pieces that I am not sure about. As you can see in the picture, there are 2 white flat disc pieces. Can someone please explain what these pieces are for?

Also does anyone have any idea what a set like this is worth? (I'm not planning on selling, just curious)

Thank you so much!

I am not an expert but I think the two extra flat pieces are for promotion. when you need three queens for example.

Rhi .. very nice board, I wish I had one like that made of marble.  anyway why not take it to someone who can identify if it is marble, and if not then what is it?  perhaps that is just paint, and beneath the pieces and board are gold or platinum, who knows :) good luck

Not of particular value unless the materials are something special.

The sentimental value is foremost.

It doesn't look like such a bad board to use too!

I noticed one bag said Kabul Gemstones, so perhaps it's made out of marble, and lapus lazuli. It's certainly a nice one, at least in my opinion. Read up on Kabul Gemstones, and you'll get a lot of info on it.

that is smart, when I played as a kid we'd promote only to a captured piece, but never two queens.

Thank you for the observation! After some further inspection of the set and research online I am pretty sure you are exactly right. The blue pieces and parts of the board are lapis lazuli and the white is a white marble. I actually found my exact board here: http://www.pakistan-marble-granite-onyx.com/lapis-lazuli-chess-sets.php

Thanks again!

I just looked at the site, they have amazing boards....

What was the price for that set? I couldn't find it on there. I can tell it's a very nice one. All that other stuff was beautiful too.

They don't seem to have prices on the site. You're supposed to send a request to get more info on the price, so I did. We'll see what they say...

I saw a little one on another site, just 8 by 8, and three pounds. It was $598.00!

That's ridiculous! Wow... I'm still waiting for an email back from that other website...who knows if I will get one. Mine is definitely bigger than 8x8. Maybe I have something more valuable than I thought...hmm

Haven't heard back yet? That's strange.

That photo probably doesn't do the set justice. 

Lapis Lazuli is a semi-precious but rare mineral that's mined in Afghanistan. My guess is that outside of that part of the world this set would be quite expensive. Your father probably got a great deal on it since he was stationed over there. But if I found one online and had to pay to have it shipped here, it could get expensive. Marble and Lapis aren't high dollar, but they're absolutely beautiful, and they're strong, too.

Take good care of that set. And I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your father.

That is a beautiful set. Blue is my favorite color.

 I have a set from Italy made of alabaster. The knights in my profile photo are from that set. My first late wife gave the set to me for my birtday in 1959. I truly cherish it.

It was the first fine set I ever had and it was the beginning of my collection of chess sets from all over the world.   

I wish I had several chess sets from all over the world.

I never set out to start a collection.  One day I realized I had several sets from other countries.  I had a display cabinet made for them.  I sold the cabinet when we moved because of its size, thinking we would not have the room for it.  It turned out we did have the room.  I regret that, but I still have the sets and rotate having them out and playing with them. 

I have sets from Egypt, Vietnam, England, Greece, Congo, Italy, Korea, Columbia, and Oman. I have some theme sets and a Salt and Pepper Shaker set.   Of course, I have some Staunton sets for serious playing. 

I guess the OP isn't comming back. He got the info he wanted, and booked.

You're right about the photo. I just took it with my phone but it really is beautiful in person. I'm so glad I came on here and asked about it because I never would have known it was lapis lazuli.

I had emailed a website that carried the same set to find out how much it was worth but they never got back to me.

I am sure it is something I will keep forever as a sentimental item. And thank you OldScribe for the condolences.

That's the darnedest thing I've ever heard of!  A company not bothering to get back to somebody who might want to buy their product!