It's certainly a lovely set sir, but only your own financial situation can determine if it's a good purchase. I've put my own chess set collection together by watching the chess section on Ebay using either "staunton" or "house of staunton" as filters to weed out the flakey theme sets. I'm going to have to borrow a digital camera to back up what I know will seem like outrageous claims, but I purchased a very similar ebony set for around $125 (with shipping) not long ago. Two years ago I got a 4.5" ebony set (admittedly used) with a large "individual compartment" case for $150 plus shipping. I do know the feeling of "gratification delayed is gratification denied" however so if you have the money and the urge, maybe treating yourself is the way to go. It's certainly not an outrageous price although if you went "direct from India" with an ebay seller like Chessbazaar, you could get something similar cheaper or for the same price an upgrade to truly spectacular knights. Me, I look for the bargains...
is this set gorgeous or what
I believe you baddogno, and I will await your pics. Get that digital camera, and I will do searches for staunton on ebay. thanks for the help.
Not sure if i'm a huge fan of the chamfer on the bottom.
The horses are a little creepy, but the other pieces are some of the most beautiful I've ever saw.
Sbs, it is a fine set, however, the only reason I wouldn't buy it is, because of the Queen. Her coronet is to narrow, and skimpy, personally for me. I would have no problem playing with that set however, and it is still a beautiful piece of art work. Your taste may prefer it that way, which is fine, everyone is different. Good luck regardless of your decision.
Really nice!
I believe you baddogno, and I will await your pics. Get that digital camera, and I will do searches for staunton on ebay. thanks for the help.
Don't hold your breath waiting for pictures, it might take a long while. I think the set I purchased was a "sample set" sent to a vendor hoping to get him to carry it. It was new, all but a few of the pieces were still in the original wrapping, and there was just one of them. Anyway good luck with your search and I hope it doesn't become a minor addiction (says the man with 18 chess sets 
).
I hope it doesn't become a minor addiction (says the man with 18 chess sets ).
hahaha, I see that in my future. I salivate when I see beautiful sets. What you wrote "gratification delayed is gratification denied" is soooooo smart. It underlines and bolds the ADDICTION. I\m going to wait for those pics. and what CrimsonKight wrote, about the queen's coronet, I had that feeling too. Something skimpy, yet verrrry feminine ;->
Yeah, its a nice one.
Looks great to me! Even the queen..!!
Looks great to me! Even the queen..!!
I jjust spoke to the owner. I called the number. I want to find out if they have it in ebony or in rosewood. I'm not interested in the rosewood, but I'm interested in the ebony if it looks as good as the pucs. I love the elegance of the pieces. If baddoggno can find me a comparable set on ebay for a 200 bucks less, I'd love to save the 200 bucks. the questions is, is this set going to be as beautiful as it looks in the pics? Next time I speak to the owner I'm gonna ask if I can see it first. I don't wan t to send 400 bucks and be disappointed. That would be a super bummer. But these pieces look outstandingly elegant in the pics.
If the set caught your eye and you can afford it, by all means.
Personally, I dislike the chamfered base, as well as the anorexic queen. But that's in the eye of the beholder - someone else may find this set very attractive. The price seems ok. Sort of depends on what kind of ebony they use - low grade ebony can look rather ugly.
Lastly, reading through the description they recommend a board square size of 1.75-2" for a set w/ 1.75" king base, as well as saying the set would be "flattered" with a glossy rather than a "rustic" board. That let's me believe this retailer knows nothing about chess, which makes me suspicious.
What about this set???
If the set caught your eye and you can afford it, by all means.
Personally, I dislike the chamfered base, as well as the anorexic queen. But that's in the eye of the beholder - someone else may find this set very attractive. The price seems ok. Sort of depends on what kind of ebony they use - low grade ebony can look rather ugly.
Lastly, reading through the description they recommend a board square size of 1.75-2" for a set w/ 1.75" king base, as well as saying the set would be "flattered" with a glossy rather than a "rustic" board. That let's me believe this retailer knows nothing about chess, which makes me suspicious.
yes, I took that glossy board comment with a few grains of salt. I have no interest in a glossy board.
Can you say more about difference between low grade and good grade
ebony? I know nothing about such things.
I sort of like the anorexic queen. a;though I noticed her skinniness...We all have our taste in queens I imagine!
Can you say more about the chamfered base. It looks intersting to me, that it might have a nice feel to moving the pieces, like a pendulum. What do you think? What are your thoughts?
I already have a 2.5" square board that I got on cragislist, so I have plenty of room for anything. {ersonally, I like a lot of room, so I'm not worried about too much space. If I buy another board it will be a drueke 2. 25" aspen and walnut board a la firebrandx; no need for any other board besides the druke and my 2.5" square board.
Just looking for the perfect gorgeous set to put on it, for preferabbly under $300.
Personally, I dislike the chamfered base, as well as the anorexic queen.
Thats not an anorexic Queen, she has a fat bottom!
As the song says "Fat bottomed girls you make the rocking world go round!"
they have it in ebony. I want to what their return policy is. Any opinions about chamfered base from people who have it? If this set looks like the pics it is nicer than anything I've seen. And I will not buy before I hear from baddogno again. I promise myself!! I will not buy, I will not buy, I will not buy....best close the laptop now. Later, fellow chess addicts!
Too much pressure, guy. No killer deal jumps out at me from Ebay at the moment. Chessbazaar has his usual selection of $300 sets with absolutely killer knights paired with strange companions. I did find an ebony set that would fit nicely on your 2.5" board for a bargain price ($140 delivered) but the knights are not quite as detailed and the taper on the queen looks not quite right to my eye. a bargain, but...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390401191995?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
There are 2 Susan Polgar sets listed. HOS hasn't carried them for a while but they were in the $600 to $1200 range depending on the material if memory serves me correctly (which it rarely does). One is bud rosewood and the starting bid is $500; wouldn't be bad except a pawn has a big chunk out of its' collar. Could you get a replacement? Probably. Is it worth the hassle? Only if you really want the set. My guess is there will be no bids and it will be relisted at a lower price. The other set looks like regular rosewood and with 3 days to go has only been bid to $61. Of course the label on the box says ebonized boxwood but the pictures are of rosewood since you can see a little grain. That's going to get bid up in the two to three hundred range anyway, but is a very nice set.
That's about all that I could find although if you want to spend 4-5 hundred there are always a few used HOS sets around. And that's the news from Ebay...
EDIT; Oh, the chamfered base is I think a legacy of our fascination with blitz and bullet chess. When bumped a piece tends to wobble rather than skid or get knocked over.
this set, in ebony, has caught my eye, as a more expensive competitor to the chessstore offerings in fierce knight. etc. Its about two hundred bucks more than the chessstore, but it seems unbelievably elegant and gorgeous. Can I get some thoughts from people on here? Do you find it gorgeous? Do you think its worth the money. @firebrandx, what do you think? Note: I'm not interested in the rosewood, only in the ebony.
http://www.chessbaron.ca/chess-X2012.htm