Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set

@ wiscmike

no hash feelings, though that burlap bag part went straight over my head :)

@ LuftWaffles

Don't you think that the Jaques looks pretty much like the Morphy, at more than double the price? I guess that probably the indian makers are the same.

Hi Guys,

Before you all read this post, I should confess that Frank Cameratta and I have a bit of history between us. I dislike him and he returns the feeling.

The HOS sets generally IMHO are overpriced, few would argue with that.

On Franks set which he names after the GM Paul Morphy for no clear reason I see far to many points on the oversized queen's creneletions. The knight is well carved as is to be expected of the carvers in The Ivory House in Armistrar where Frank usually sources his sets. The pawn balls are not round.

It is a well made set as most of the Indian set production is nowadays, with plusses and minuses depending on ones personal taste.

There were something close to 20 different knights heads in the first year of Jaques production. All one can do is pick out one you like and either buy a set which seems similar or have one of the Indian firms copy a sample and make you a set. Otherwise we all choose from what is avaliable.

I for one like the new CB repro set. It looks very playable, and I'm not super particular on one knight design over another. I do like that the knight has been reduced both in height and chest volume compared to the prototype. I would have loved to see the kight even smaller and with a less pronounced curve in the lower neck/mane, but that's a minor gripe.

I look forward to playing with the set, and applaud your efforts to help make this happen. Adding the kingside stamping at a reasonable price was a nice touch also. Now if we could only get a nice mahogany box and perhaps a nice little paper label inside the lid to go along with that... :)

I take it contemporary Jaques sets do not bear the "Jaques London" stampings on the kings.

That design is the Amritsar Ivory works set I mentioned in my original post here.  It looks like someone might have taken a screen shot with their phone.   The Knight in these sets is probably my favorite Knight design (without historical consideration)

+1, if only I knew how to order a set. 😀

I don't do facebook, I don't tweet, I like to interact with other people directly. Phone or e-mail, are ok, texts and PM's are ok too. 😀

😜

Do you mean narrow as in the distance between your thumb and forefinger if you were holding it from above or as in the distance from back of mane to under the chin? If the former, the bodies of the original Jaques knights were quite narrow when looked at head on. If the latter, I think it's okay, it's just the camera angle.

I'm with Jack in liking this knight the best. It's what I have in mind when I think of 1849 Jaques, as it captures the downward-turned mouth and the wild, exhausted look of a horse that has been pulling a chariot, as per the Elgin marbles. Incidentally, if you look at the original ads on CB's facebook page, the detailed plans on their website, and the original specifications from Alan (also on their website), it seems clear that they were originally intending to do a similar knight. Still, the claim to have only a few sets left, so it's selling well.

Apart from the price, what puts me off the AIW set is the antiquing seen in the original picture, though I imagine they might do one without (less work, after all).

Good point.! You had me checking out all my Knights for this descrepency. Nothing was found.

That's one of those things that can vary. I have a photo of an early Jaques set where the knight looks similarly smaller than the base.

I prefer a boxwood finish, but the mocked-up version still looks a bit "dirty" for me.

Mike, We played on my HOS Liberty Series chessmen which are inexpensive, but sturdy and a fine WT Pinney reproduction.  Am eagerly waiting your bringing in the Jaques 1849 for viewing!

This looks like my 1860'ish Jaques set (unweighted 3.8" King).

I've already got that 'covered' (in the Biblical sense).

Just don't laugh at it Allen.  

I don't think I will get it for the second Thursday of the month club meeting.  They seem to be taking a week just to go out the door.

That's just it a set doesn't have to cost a lot to be a nice set like your Liberty HOS set.  I am waiting to see if they have anotrher sale on those. I missed that moving sale. The set was very nicely done and a pleasure to play with even though I lost.  

Thanks LuftWaffles, life's been good so far. I get a blast out of playing with those pieces.

@ LuftWaffles

that is my favourite knight design as well, and I hoped CB was aiming at it; i live in Europe and ordering from HoS (that still makes the closest match IMO) is fairly expensive. I am starting to think that AIW is the only company able to deliver that quality of carving.  One option is to ask designerchess to get a couple of sets at a better price than HoS, I did that for a Lasker set and it worked out very well, in due time I am going to try and do that for a Morphy set.