It looks like a really good set. It has a strong Wabi Sabi feel about it. Where did you find it and if you don't mind telling us how much did it cost?
Really interesting set - help me identify it?
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Apr 26, 2019
0
#23
I reached out to a Chess antiquities expert who had this to say:
"The set doesn’t strike me as a reproduction, but it does seem to have been re-lacquered at some point...It has all the features of a set made between 1865 and 1870. Of course, without actually holding the pieces, it is impossible to say for certain."
@Drawgood - A friend had it in their attic and gave it to me because they knew I'm an enthusiast. Hadn't been played with in decades. So, I lucked out! It was free.
Apr 27, 2019
0
#24
No ridicule! It’s a good theory. Another chess collector took a look and thought that at first, though he had never seen a wooden set in this style, just ivory. And, after seeing better pictures of the knights he ruled it out. That said, the grain is an interesting aspect and is somewhat unusual looking to my eye...
Thanks Matt - I worked through some endgame studies last night with them. Just got a MINT vintage 2.25" drueke board in the mail. Not a scratch on it and sticker is perfect - the previous owner received it as a present in the 70s but didn't actually play chess so it stayed on the wall for 50 years!!
Anyway, I took out these pieces and messed around with them, and I'm not actually sure if there really are nails in the bottom. It might just be VERY lightly weighted. I don't really want to remove the felt to find out since it's original. Might just have to live with this mystery, eh?
just too add it's a very nice looking chess set , Only thing is , Then you want this then that & before you know you have too many !