Mexican Mirth

Look away now if:

• wooden pieces are your thing
• plastic pieces are your thing
• traditional or even historic chess pieces are your thing
• practical, playable pieces are your thing 
• you don’t want to smile… 

I am reasonably confident these pieces will make you smile - either at the folly of my purchase (laugh at me) or the wonder of their creation (laugh with me).

These pieces are Papier-mâché. What!

These pieces are by the Mexican artist Pedro Hernandez Cruz. There’s some video and photos online.

The board is massive - 80cm square - call it 32” and 8” deep!

The pieces range from 17cm-23cm - 7-9”.

The pieces are stored in the box/board.

Each piece is unique, hand-painted.

Each piece is hilarious! The whole idea of a set like this is hilarious.

Why? Truly…just pure curiosity. I watched it for weeks and then put an ambit offer in - it would cost more in freight just to ship it into the country but … the seller was not offended and was happy to let it go. A wealthy, retired gent who lived in a city high-rise, has no room and is down-sizing his collection of artefacts. He lived in Mexico  for years and carted this around the world - wherever work took him, including back here to Australia.

It’s actually nuts…. The pieces will make me smile for as long as I have them and I really do admire the way they are made - it takes some skill to create stuff like this! Smile with me or at me …. 😉.

I’ll never play with them but I might display them in different parts of the house … conversation starters.😉
And if they are not your thing … don’t say I didn’t warn you at the start! 😊

OK...That's It! I'm taking the wife to the new Mexican restaurant that just opened in our area.

Not kidding!

I'm still smiling....WoW!

It's Friday night....Time to spoil the wife,after all the chess sets she allowed me to buy.

@Marie-AnneLiz - That made the post worth it! I am glad it made you smile.👍

Not something I'd buy but I like it a lot lol. This is one of the nice thing about being with collectors, you got to see all diverse styles you never know the existence of. 

Thanks buddy!

What an excellent set!!! Mark, you really have turned into a serious collector now. That's it, no turning back. Looking forward to seeing more.

These are awesome! Thanks for showing them <3

Truly a dream set. Conversation starter? Game starter! Screams to be played

I love ‘em Mr. Powderdigit, especially the “whimsical-ness” of the painting! The knight with the wrap-around horse is what made me smile the most. I fear there is no hope for you now. When will you adding on to your home? You know, that “extra bedroom for displaying….errrr….for visitors” 🤣😉

Very cool! It made me smile and laugh when I saw it.

I am glad it is making people smile. I had a friend over last night to watch the footy - he has no interest in chess but seeing the pieces on the dining table - he was amazed. If I show him an old wooden set he reacts with a yawn/‘meh’ but this grabbed his attention - how could it not! @Wits-end hit it on the head with his comment - they are whimsical to be sure. After a while I may sell this one - not sure - it’s so big - it would actually be better in a Mexican bar or restaurant and in a large residence with a games room or something…. For now and for a while yet, I will enjoy it for the joyous art that it is. I am not sure it’s screaming to be played - in truth, I had trouble matching the queen to the correct side… my understanding is the dark pieces (purple hats, black pants and knights) represent a wealthy family - the light pieces a less well-off clan. I figure the queen with the headwear goes to the dark side …and the rooks … their hats are cut like turrets! One cannot but smile! It is a ‘feel-good’ set but oh my, it would be very tricky to play with this set.  😊

You accomplished your goal as I am smiling. Sometimes we NEED whimsy to take off the serious edge of life. I am not a fan of themed sets; HOWEVER, I am a fan of this one! Great score!

And tonight we are celebrating my sister's birthday, Patricia, named for St. Patrick's Day, and the dinner is catered by a local Mexican restaurant!

Well, screaming to be played.. here is a themed set that does not draw on chess but is bringing itself to chess. They are so lovely- they have to be tried! Entertaining and non-committal, as it's not a serious game. Very commital as it's like 1/7th blindfold. 

Thanks and agreed. I’ll play my brother on it one day and turn my smile into a laugh. You’re right - it deserves to be played and I can absolutely see many - good time. I think tequilas may need to sit near this board! 😉

That’s high praise indeed Holger (@EfimLG47) - thank you! Collecting is a strange and satisfying hobby - so much of the joy is in the hunt and the people you meet along the way. The gent that I purchased this set from was world-wise and really interesting to chat too. I learn more about chess - and the world - every day. 👍

Uhm, I think your set has infiltrant on both sides.