Lardy appreciation thread.

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.

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. 

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 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. 

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.

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.

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. 

I think the Chess Empire version referred to above is the closest reproduction I've seen.

The first one is a really good copy of a 3 1/2" Lardy. Agreed that a lot of Lardy and Chavet sets have blemishes/leans etc. The turning/carving quality is better in todays sets, but the design isn't. 

You miss the whole nostalgia of collecting. Ill take those vintage Lardy sets you have over any new set any day. By the way I will take both those sets off your hands for $100.00 US.

Also those new sets are a crack waiting to happen. At least with a vintage set the wood has already cured.

That's one way of looking at it. All of the sets I have collected are crack and leaner free. It takes time and patience to find them. Minor inclusions in the wood does not bother me.

Good luck. Either way I like the feel of the design in play.

I did. I'm cleaning my closet and thinning out my collection this summer. I just took a look and noticed how much stuff I have that's just sitting there collecting dust when it could be used by someone else. I'll also be putting up this smaller one that is placed on a Drueke with 1.75 inch squares.