Henri Chavet Guide

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Avatar of Pawnerai
busterlark wrote:

At some point, I might get a new board that's less dinged up to play these on. But I'm not sure. I'm not as particular about boards.

That board is a perfect match to go with the pieces. I wouldn't change a thing. I especially like the figured grain of the walnut border along the h-file. Looks awesome. Have fun with it!

Avatar of busterlark

Thanks, everyone!

MCH818 - I hadn't thought of that, but that does make sense, doesn't it? Maybe I'll keep the pieces in that box, then. After all, that's what Chavet said the pieces ought to go in.

Avatar of lotsoblots

@busterlark if you ever are looking to sell this set, please keep me in mind wink.png ... I *love* this size.

Avatar of busterlark

lotsoblots -- haha, I don't think I'll be parting with it any time soon, but if I do, I'll keep you in mind. happy.png

Avatar of Tshorni

Hello there,

 

I remember when I said here, two years ago, how happy I was to find some news about Chavet / Jurabuis, telling that they were still alive.

However, with their sets becoming increasingly difficult to find, to a point where it is nearly impossible to find a new set right now, with their website being an almost empty page with just a message saying "Be patient... See you very soon !" for 2 years now, with their facebook page displaying 0 activity since january 2021, it is likely that they have silently gone extinct. I have just sent them an email just to be sure and am waiting for an answer.

Another less-known chess pieces manufacturer from Jura, Tournerie Michel Roz, has stopped its activity in September : they no longer craft any new set. Local media announced the news with the following statement : "The last french chess pieces wood-turning factory closes its doors". Could have been a journalist's mistake, or another proof that Chavet was already gone before Michel Roz's closure. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/bourgogne-franche-comte/jura/lons-le-saunier/je-finis-comme-j-ai-commence-avec-mon-pere-la-derniere-tournerie-francaise-de-jeux-d-echecs-ferme-ses-portes-dans-le-jura-2630172.html

If this is all true (and I am 99% sure it is), then this is very sad news. Chavet (and Michel Roz as well) have gone through so much difficulties in the past decades : increasing concurrency from cheaper sets, proliferation of the box tree moth causing damage to the forests since the 2010's, covid lockdowns... They went from medium-sized factories with ~40 employees in the 70's to maybe 2 people crafting sets full-time in the last years. No wonder why the quality of the wood has stepped down, no wonder why the design has been simplified on some pieces.

 

The following video shows Tournerie Michel Roz's factory and the process of making a king https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSeKTbNYUGs Two people, husband and wife, making all the pieces of all the sets, doing some quality control, inserting them into boxes, taking care of the orders. I find it very impressive.

 

I do not know exactly why I am so attached to Chavet. Maybe, although I hated being in a chess club, it is because the chess club I was in was FULL of Chavet sets, and I spent my wednesday afternoons among old, coffee-stained, yet beautiful pieces with pretty knights. I also remember how, despite my grand-parents not thinking they had a chess set in their house, I unexpectedly found in their basement two homemade boards and a box with the famous "Henri Chavet - Jeux d'échecs" logo on it, with a complete set of big, gorgeous pieces inside : it was my first time hearing about Chavet (although now I think the pieces inside are from Lardy lol).

The release of The Queen's Gambit series apparently brought the opportunity for these manufacturers to sing their swan's song.

Again, I am waiting for an email answer from Jurabuis, but I have very very little hope.

If you have any recent news, please tell !

Avatar of Castle00-GX

Is this a Chavet chess set?

 

Avatar of Walterbiensur

It’s not a Chavet. @MCH818 is right ;-)

Avatar of Castle00-GX

Here's a closer look.

 

Dimensions

 

King - 3.675" (93mm)

Queen - 3.283" (82mm)

Rook - 2.087" (53mm)

Bishop - 2.756" (70mm)

Knight - 2.756" (70mm)

Pawn - 2.047" (52mm)

Avatar of Walterbiensur

Chavet looks like this 

Avatar of Castle00-GX

That angle doesn't help me much.  What are the characteristics that clearly define a Chavet set from a German Knight set?

Avatar of Walterbiensur

PS: B210, B207, B202 or B212, does not exist, has never existed anywhere other than in the minds of certain ambitious collectors. They only interpreted the word BUIS (boxwood) as a number sequence.

Avatar of Walterbiensur

Sure it’s not Chavet ! Never !

Avatar of Walterbiensur
Castle00-GX a écrit :

Here's a closer look.

 

Dimensions

 

King - 3.675" (93mm)

Queen - 3.283" (82mm)

Rook - 2.087" (53mm)

Bishop - 2.756" (70mm)

Knight - 2.756" (70mm)

Pawn - 2.047" (52mm)

 

Just have a look here, you will understand

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/chavet-ndeg-8

Avatar of Castle00-GX

What kind of chess set do I have then?  It came from France or Italy, so it can't be one of those cheaply made German Knight sets.

Avatar of Castle00-GX

It always has that hybrid feel, a combination of chavet and the German Knight.

Avatar of TheOneCalledMichael
Castle00-GX wrote:

What kind of chess set do I have then?  It came from France or Italy, so it can't be one of those cheaply made German Knight sets.

High likely made by didatto, Italy. 92mm KH you don't see that often, you see more the library size set around 76mm in folding board cases. Always 2 woods, boxwood and rosewood.

Avatar of beachero
Walterbiensur wrote:

PS: B210, B207, B202 or B212, does not exist, has never existed anywhere other than in the minds of certain ambitious collectors. They only interpreted the word BUIS (boxwood) as a number sequence.

I do not think this is correct.  Clearly these are written as ref numbers on some original boxes?

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/chavet-wcc-sets-1990-2000#comment-32179928

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/chavet-wcc-sets-1990-2000#comment-32128982

https://preview.redd.it/gcgunbqxmn261.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=0f75f0154f3f04d2c7bbf8d19da0f1ea19aea0c0

I have seen many other examples...

 

Avatar of Castle00-GX

Do you think the Didatto set might be as valuable as the Chavet set, although I'm going off-topic with this.

Avatar of Walterbiensur
beachero a écrit :
Walterbiensur wrote:

PS: B210, B207, B202 or B212, does not exist, has never existed anywhere other than in the minds of certain ambitious collectors. They only interpreted the word BUIS (boxwood) as a number sequence.

I do not think this is correct.  Clearly these are written as ref numbers on some original boxes?

I have seen many other examples...

I asked Mr. Chavet the question. He still has the game order mail for the 1990 WCC. B210 is not there, and he never listed his games that way.

For my part, I have never found any box with this kind of label in France.

And every time I see one, it's on ebay, in England...

You don't have to believe me ;-)

Avatar of Walterbiensur


Ink tends to fade over time, you can also write whatever you want.