Lardy appreciation thread.

Hmm, I was just looking at the knights again and they also resemble the alternate Chavet knights (special type 1 as posted by @Walterbiensur in another thread) Picture by Walter:

But the base of your knights is taller than what Chavet would use. And obviously the wood used would be very atypical.

I may have a clue from a different direction. I recently acquired a set that is made in China. Now this set is not even close to yours in terms of quality and carving but there are some strong similarities in the design of the knights.

China? I have not seen that one before.

Some Lardy-esque sets also come out of Spain, although not sure about yours @Powerdigit.

Thanks all - my gut says its from somewhere in Europe - just based on other vintage sets of euro origin. On the set from China - interesting, albeit I feel there two many differences - see shape or bishop and Queen's crown too. Spain feels like a lead to follow up.

I have also has a new thought. Perhaps they are not lathe but holes that used to hold a finial loke a ball or something else. Is that feasible?

Hi dear community!

I recently bid on an eBay auction and won this beautiful chess set that I received today.

If I'm not wrong, I probably joined the Lardy family (but not sure at all).

In the box, it says that is Made in France, but sincerely I'm not sure if it's an original Lardy or not, anyway, I love the set with its beautiful details of the knights (like teeth) and the color/patina of the pieces.

Some details that make me doubt about if it's a true Lardy are the bellies on the knights that look bulkier and less rounded than other sets of the style that I saw here.

The set seems lightly weighted, and it's lacquered. The height of the king is approx 85mm.

Hope you enjoy the photos although they are made without prep and as fast as I could.
Regards!

Congrats on your new acquisition and welcome to the Lardy family. Those knights sure look interesting. I have never seen knights protrude beyond the base so much. It is an interesting variation I never realized existed before now. It is pretty cool.

No lean = no Lardy (ok, just joking!)

Here are a couple of captures from a small ad currently offered in France, for a size 8 Lardy :

@jtorrex Congrats & welcome to the club! Holger Langer has a set that looks very similar - unfortunately without much more information: https://www.chess-collection.de/newpage57

Holger dates them to the 70s/80s. There isn't any proof that I know of which indicate that Lardy made these sets. The base of the knight also looks to be less tall than what Lardy used ( see @kiwimotard pics above) As @Walterbiensur has documented, Chavet still made knights with teeth in the 70s. See also this thread: Chavet N° 8

That set belonging to Holger looks very similar. Thanks for post @broomstuck.

Congrats @jtorrex! the knights are indeed somewhat suspicious but the wood used is for sure buxus sempervirens, european boxwood, the most commonly wood used in Jura.

FWIW, I found a very similar set in my collection. Same king height, felted, lightly weighted. Box is the same as Holger’s - I assume the pieces were sold to a German distributor who provided his own boxes. On the bottom there’s a sticker with original price - I bought it from a German seller so maybe in Deutsche Mark. No idea what the other code means. 

Thanks for your reply @MCH818!

Seems that you are right @kiwimotard, no lean = no Lardy!

Thanks for taking some time to research the origin of the set @broomstuck, I checked the Holger Langer set, and yes, it's pretty similar to mine, so probably had the same origin.

I didn't purchase it thinking that is a true Lardy, but I just bid on the auction for them having only the info that is made in France. I was more captivated by the carvings and "vintage" colors.
The wood was something that I checked when it arrived @jacmater, and based on some other pictures of sets made in France, mine shares the same "veins" on it, so we can assume that at least the original country or the zone of production was France.
The last picture you posted @broomstuck is, without doubt, the most similar set that I saw compared to mine, the only difference is maybe the box, as mine is different and it has printed Made in France on the bottom.

About the "code", the only point that makes sense to me is the "75", probably the year of production. (You mentioned before that Holger dated it in the 70's 80's).
The price is too cheap!!! Hahahahah.
Anyway, a nice set to bring it a second life as I'm thinking of giving it as a present to my girlfriend's dad, as he is an enthusiast of the game.
Thanks again all for commenting specially @broomstuck, as you dropped some light about the set.

It would be fine to research a little bit more about the origin/producer of it, but probably they are "cheap" sets sold for common uses in clubs/cafes. Who know!

@jtorrex The set would cost 36 EUR/ 40 USD with inflation correction.

It's nice to know that these pieces where actually made in France. As Lardy did licence the knight to a German maker as well.

If the set cost 40 USD then why have lardy went out of production. That should be pretty competitive keeping in view the current chess prices.

It's a pity for the rocks, sure, but it's a nice set! What's the size?

Congrats on your purchase @jtorrex. I agree with you and @jouss_leather_tattoo. Too bad the rooks are not original. Still Lardy sets are nice to have. The sets are beautiful, simple in design, and durable.

Omgg

I was thrilled to find this set at a local thrift shop. 3 3/4” king, weighted, felted. Knights have teeth. 30’s or 40’s ? Anyone know?

Please post the link of the same for reference !

@BCPete47 Nice find! Often referred to as proto-Lardy's (presumably because they weren't produced in large numbers and the knights are carved completely by hand), these sets were manufactured just before WWII.