Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set

Stationmaster is just trolling and the number of grammar errors suggests she/he is overreaching badly and is better ignored.  I wonder whether English is not her first language.  The thread however, despite regular bouts of hyperventilation, is both inevitable (its hard to imagine not having a thread about Staunton pattern copies in a forum about Chess pieces) and still useful (Chessspy's comment above is a good example of useful or at the very least interesting content).  

A locked thread will still show up in search results, and so it could still fulfil its role as a valuable reference source, without continuing to be the go-to troll hangout thread.

As I "suggested" in my post just a bit ago I say if Stauntonmaster does not reveal his true identity AND give real and actual evidence of the claims he made (actual pictures he has taken of his Chess sets and pieces both damaged and exquisite from different companies) we all agree to simply ignore him.

 Remember, he started as a member and posting with the United Kingdom flag and recently switched to the USA flag.  This belies dishonesty on his part at best.

I believe he still is in England as he knows a lot about the places and towns of Official Staunton and so forth.  Heck for all we know, he is Carl himself of Official Staunton.  Carl has deleted his previous accounts on Chess.com.  Carl does not have English as his native language and Stauntonmaster's grammar and word choices look as if he also does not nave English as his native language.

I repeat that if Stauntonmaster does not reveal the truth and provide evidence for the claims he has made, we simply ignore him as a troll.

Opening "new topic" for yourself would be the perfect solution, I'm sure you feel that contact with other people dilutes your magic.   

my opinion only is the Official Staunton, House of Staunton, The ChessStore, Chess house are the best vendors 

Since this thread is and was very interesting and has so many photos  I took the privilege of unlocking it today. Actually I went to our local chess club last week and was told who the heck locked this great thread.     Yes it is true even being locked the photos are still here but just a little harder to find the thread.

Seems like the mayhem has depleted and maybe we can revive the original topic of this interesting thread. 

Glad we are back.

Damn tiresome.

 For better or for worse, the culprits do not appear to be banned.  They have subsided their online petulance, which is good.

By the way, cgrau and rcmacmillan, do you fellows own any antique Jaques sets?  And if you do, what is your opinion of them compared to some of these newer ones as far as handling and playing?

Apologies if this is off-topic, but I saw this on an auction site (not ebay). They are just selling the Knight, as far as I know they have no other pieces. It is described as 19th century, and has an estimate (from the auction house) of £150-200!

Anyone know what set this is from? It doesn't look like Jaques to me.

Here is the full description:"19th century AD or earlier. A carved 'knight' chess piece applied with discoid base, horse's head and neck with notched rib for the mane, detailed teeth in the open mouth. See Egan, G. The Medieval Household. Daily Living c.1150-c.1450, London, 2010, p.291-4 for discussion.27 grams, 52mm (2"). Property of a Hampstead gentleman; from his family collection formed since the 1970s. Fine condition."

Apologies, Eye, I just saw this. In terms of handling and playing there is little to choose between my Jaques 1900 and Possibly/Probably/What the Hell Why Not Just Call It Ayres large club sets on the one hand, and my Official Staunton 1851 and 1870 large club reproductions on the other. I do experience an intangible value added sense of history playing with French polished pieces over a hundred years old, however. 

Hi Chuck,

I bet you didn't find the 1900 Jaques in this condition on eBay.  This fine set must have cost a pretty penny. Both are lovely sets, but I think I like the vintage one a bit better.

I have to ask, any cracks to the bases of the ebony pieces?  How about warping.  

Thanks for the post.

Bob

I agree with you, Stauntonmaster, my HOS antiqued Zukertort lacks the natural patina that develops over time.  It's too even and has a dark mustard tone.  I would not buy another one.

 Hi Matt,

That knight looks to me like it is from what used to be called a 'Maltese' set but is probably of Indian manufacture 19th or early 29th c I think.

The 'Hampstead Gentleman may well be an old boy I used to work for occasionally, I will pm you when I remember his name.  

Thanks Alan. I was wondering if it pre-dated the Staunton design, which would have been surprising since it's very Staunton-like. From what you're saying though it's later (and has had a hard life!)

Hi Matt,

Here is a link to the type of set this knight comes from (post-2911)

https://www.lukehoney.co.uk/products/a-chinese-staunton-ivory-chess-set-and-board#.Wnx-I2inFhE

If you search 'Cantonese ivory Staunton' and look at images you will see several examples.Almost all are correctly identified as late 19th c although some will be early to mid 20th c

These Canton made sets are sometimes difficult to identify but the Chinese makers always make the screw threads (they used where pieces are in two parts like the knight) very sawtoothed in shape unlike the more traditional Whitworth balanced shape used in England.

Victor Keats, who may be the 'Hampstead Gentleman' referred to in the ad wrote several books on the history of sets. I am going to be kind and say that our knowledge of chess piece design and history has moved on since he was alive. If I were being unkind I would say he was a self-serving bombast but that really is not necessary. 

Thanks Alan

Would I be right in thinking that the estimate of £150-200 for the one piece that looks like it has been used as a dog's toy for most of its life may be optimistic?

Hi Matt,

LOL yes, a tad. $1.50c to $2 is probably more like it.