I wholeheartedly agree. Lardy sets have a lot of charm. I even like the leaning tower of Pisa kings, if the angle is not too severe 
. (The wood was often not dry enough during production, often warping the kings & queens after a couple of years of use.)
-Izmet
Love the Lardys.The brown stains are my favorite along with my glass eyed knights in olive & palisander 3.75 K set. Next is my 4.25 K set. All are mint.
I couldn't agree more. I love my HoS Collector and Fischer Spassky but there is just something about the Lardy set. I love the one you posted the most... 70s era. Although the ones from the 40s and 50s are good too.
Me too, MCH. The 70's lardy's are probably my favorite chess design.
I wish I could find one with a 4" + king, but my lardy sets of that size are the older ones.
The 4"+ sets come up every so often that have minor issues for a good price if you look. No leaners and minor flaws. Mint sets will come with a premium.
I've been looking for a 3.5" 70s version on the *bay but haven't found a good one yet. The ones on there always has condition issues and I don't mean leaners. I mean like cracks, separated knights, finish issues, etc. I did buy a 40s version recently and it does have some issues which I thought was ok given its age. No one was bidding so I took a shot and won. I have not received it yet so hopefully it won't be too bad. It should show up this week or next week.
I have a 3.5" I'd part with - not 70s though... but maybe you'd like it! I can message you pictures if you want.
Thx! but I really want the 70s version.
A 70's set in perfect shape with box may pop up sooner or later and if you are lucky by a thrift shop seller at a good price. Most likely it will be later and you have to be active at searching.
What I don't understand is why all the repro sets look nothing like this. At best, suggestive of the Lardy.
Placed on a Drueke board of 2.25 inch squares.
I received the 40s version today and the condition is poor. The seller said there were only a few issues but there are more than that. I guess my expectation was greater than what a set that old can be.
@crusaderwabbet I've been looking but I think I might go with a reproduction.
@paretobox The Chess Empire repro is a very good reproduction. I'm probably going to go with this one over a real one. https://www.etsy.com/listing/726481664/lardy-staunton-35-boxwood-glided-brown?ref=hp_rv-4&pro=1&frs=1
@Upcountryrain That set looks awesome! It looks like you just bought it.
Placed on a Drueke board of 2.25 inch squares.
Love the Drueke boards - it's such a rare find now, maybe on eBay (used)............
That repro looks good. Personally I like the original even with some minor flaws. With a original box it has a nostalgia to it that a collector wants.
@crusaderwabbet I am on the border. I don't mind minor stuff either but you just don't know until you get the set. I guess it depends who you get it from and how honest they are.
You have no risk on Ebay. Just ask questions and pics. If it is not as advertised send it back. You are not out a dime. Just time.
That is true. I contacted the seller and he will accept the return on the 40s set. It was definitely disappointing.
I've owned a lot of nice chess sets. Some of them have been real gems. But when it comes down to it, I am increasingly convinced that nothing beats a good lardy set with 3.75" or 4" kings. Really.
For example, I have a House of Stuanton set that originally cost $800. Is the carving more refined? Sure it is. Better quality wood? absolutely. The knights are drop dead gorgeous and sculptural, but that doesn't make them good to play with. I played a game against my brother last night and I couldn't stop looking at the knight's nostrils. Big gaping holes in his snout that were so distracting that I had trouble focusing on the game. I mean seriously, these things cast their own shadows. An insect could lays its eggs in there and they'd be safe.
Lardy knights are simple perfection. It's as if they figured out the best looking functional design that could be made with the least # of cuts. I appreciate that.
They aren't so precious that you have to worry about them or leave them in a glass case. It's not a chess set if you don't actually play with it! A lardy set is one to take to the bar (when going out to a bar was a thing people did).
They aren't so rare that you can't replace a dog-chewed pawn. And recently, i made the mistake of selling my favorite lardy set due to some covid-induced financial strain, but when I realized what I had done, I quickly found another 3.75" set for a song. All was well again.
They aren't pretentious in any way, shape or form. They aren't "triple" or "quadruple" weighted. They are just weighted, and correctly.
They proportions are spot on, too. My only gripe? The pawn tops are never actually circles, but that's never gotten in my way before. Not like some of the doofy designs I've seen from all the major chess brands today.
So here's to you Lardy. I'm pretty sure that you'll always just be my go-to.