Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set

Jack_Burton great topic!

Thanks to RCMacMillan and Questionableknight for the insight.

Although I  have at least 50 sets of every quality and description it's a thread like this that gets me hankering for just one more.

I am not one to blow my own trumpet but I and my very well educated wife Milissa (An historian) did some research on the origins of the Staunton pattern chess set design which is here if anyone is interested.

http://www.chessspy.com/articles/Staunton%20Chess%20Set%20Design.pdf

Do not miss the endnotes which are quite extensive and (I think) interesting. (Scroll down a bit after the end of the article) Whist this is not what is called 'full dress' academic research it is considerably more accurate than most of what can be found elsewhere on the web.

The article also touches on other English chess set designs which were popular in clubs at the time.

A most excellent article, Alan! Many thanks to you and Milissa!

If not for Alan I would have never made this thread.   I've read pretty much every scrap of text on chessspy.com and visit the youtube videos on a regular basis.  Without his contributions I don't think the niche industry of Jaques reproductions that has sprung up would even exist. 

Many thanks of course also go to Sir Alan Fersht and Jon Crumiller for well...everything.

Jack_Burton wrote:

If not for Alan I would have never made this thread.   I've read pretty much every scrap of text on chessspy.com and visit the youtube videos on a regular basis.  Without his contributions I don't think the niche industry of Jaques reproductions that has sprung up would even exist.  Many thanks of course also go to Sir Alan Fersht and Jon Crumiller for well...everything.

-------------------------------------

+1,000

:)

Hear, hear!

There is a set on ebay right now which is being sold as an early Jaques.  

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371524482361?_trksid=p2060353.m1431.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Several replacement pieces, but the white king does bear the Jaques London stamping.

I totally agree with rmacmillan's statement about the inspection problems with current HOS management.  A few months ago I bought a Dubrovnik set and a board.  The Dubrovnik set was missing felts from a couple of pieces.  HOS actually suggested that I glue them on myself and told me how to do it. Amazing nerve!  They said they glue the felts on before they ship.  The board I receive was warped.  I sent all back and requested a refund.  I was so digusted. They obviously didn't inspect these items; the felts were especially easy to notice since they were in a separate plastic bag. They offered to fix this and send me new pieces but why not get it right the first time!  I am very reluctant to buy anything else from HOS.

I don't think I've seen a thread about this set on here.  Or did I miss it?

House of Staunton's very own 1849 Jaques 4.4" club sized chess set reproduction.  This one includes the stamp on the base of the King and the registration lozenge on the bottom of the piece, as well as real baize on the bottom of each piece.  It's the most accurate reproduction yet by my eye.  Pretty much exactly what we've all been asking for.

http://www.houseofstaunton.com/catalog/product/view/id/14579/s/the-original-1849-staunton-series-luxury-chess-pieces-4-4-king-with-antique-boxwood/

$3,495 !

Now, I'd love to have some of those sets.

Beautiful set, but for that price I'd rather go for the real thing.

Wow some stunning images of this set over at the HoS site (once you get to the ebony IMO). I hadn't looked at them before because the new image gallery is an absolute pain to browse, unfortunately.

I also noted that this set is not eligible for the extra 20% "mix'n'match" discount. So at the current price, the best deal you get is a 20% coupon + the 10% collector's club, clocking in at about 2500 USD by a quick estimate.

I agree with Jack_Burton though, if we disregard the price, this one blows everything else out of the water. Even the antique finish looks stellar.

Jack

This set is the EXACT same design as our 1851. WITHOUT THE LOZENGE AND KING STAMP AND IT IS EBONY. I am certain not many will pay $2500 at its lowest offer! AND furthermore even if we launched our 1851 in ebony at a mere £499.00, still I doubt sales would be prolific...so my point is, Official Staunton have already made available what collectors on here are looking for, and at very reasonable prices....just my thoughts.

Yes, it has looked like a number of set designs now that Carl is making are exact duplicates of HoS sets. Thank you for admitting this, Carl.

On the contrary it is HOS who has had our 1851 design copied after we launched it...anyhone who has followed this thread will be well aware that we launched this design way back and before HOS recent release.

The reason we offer similar/same set is both companies use the same manufacturers, we use the very best to maintain quality and emply the services of the top artisans.....

but thank you for lowering the tone EYECHESS 

Jack, you missed  Official Staunton's threads in your forum. Official Staunton's 1851 set is identical to the HOS set. And was offered long before HOS released its set. Here's the link:
 http://www.officialstaunton.com/collections/chess-pieces/products/1851-reproduction-staunton-antiqued-chessmen

and also available in boxwood:

http://www.officialstaunton.com/collections/chess-pieces/products/1851-reproduction-staunton-chessmen

I'm sorry Carl, if you feel I lowered the tone.  I certainly did not intend to do so.

It is actually apparent that you have copied HoS sets, and I'm talking about designs that Frank originated as far back as the mid 1990's

it is NOT that I have copied anything, you do not know how the industry works perhaps? ...we have been offered along with other retailers sets that the manufacturer makes and offers to us, albeit the same design as lines of HOS...did you know in 2006 my company together with an artist called Avtarjeet Dhanjal introuded and helped design and market 5 unique designes, that HOS also sell to this date! so I hope you understand that no one holds any right to a design UNLESS it is totally original and copyrighted . I know Frank extremely well, I supplied him for many year before Shawn took over. 

Hello,

I tend to separate my Chess playing from the Chess business side of my life but caught this thread and wanted to chime in. I've been working for HOS for roughly three years. We actually inspect sets on their way out the door. Even the imperfect sets that are sold from "The Outlet" section of our website. Otherwise we wouldn't know what the defects are. Even the "low end" wooden sets are audited at random for quality control purposes upon being received here. In the unfortunate event that one of our customers receives a damaged or less than perfect set, we are always willing to make things right. Including replacement pieces, finials, whatever is needed to make the customer feel good about doing business with us. On a related note, I'm glad your experiences have been satisfactory and we're pleased to learn that our sets are so topical on Chess.com equipment threads. 

 In response to the accusation that we ripped off somebody's 1851 design, I offer the following. Our 1849 set is a clone of an original 1849 that Frank happens to own. I remember him being anxious about sending that off to our craftsman so they have something to work with ( who wouldn't be lol ).  The box included with this set is of extraordinarily high quality and we have a new method of weighting the pieces ( patent pending ) that should render the set practically invulnerable to cracking.

 Edit: Link to our 1849 set ( also available in antiqued boxwood ) http://www.houseofstaunton.com/catalog/product/view/id/15018/s/the-original-1849-staunton-series-luxury-chess-pieces-4-4-king-with-natural-boxwood/

To conclude, we definitely appreciate our customers and am always happy to answer any questions.

Best,

Josh