Some Chess Sets from a Humble Collection

Thanks. Btw, I was wrong about the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, it was 1940, not, as I asserted, 1939.

The originals will always top the reproductions but some of the repros are beautifully made and keep alive some styles and designs that would otherwise disappear.

Here's a nice set I bought from my chess club. The club had inherited the long stored stock cupboard of an old, folded chess club, all wooden pieces and wooden boards. When I came to pick the set I wanted of course the sets were all mixed up and, although they are all roughly of the same design it took quite a while to assemble a set that was as consistently similar as possible, I used the colour of the felts to guide me. The style is Lardy, I believe, a French manufacturer, you can tell by the knights, they're quite "blocky". Interestingly the base of the box is stamped "Phidias" and I haven't yet been able to trace the French company who made these chess men. They're great to handle, even though unweighted. I bet they've been in some intense league game battles over the years!

I found a website called Chess Collectors and asked them if they knew anything about the manufacturer Phidias, they replied " I believe the French Phidias sets go back to the 1960's and 1970's. They are often for sale on eBay". 

This one is incredibly beautiful.  It has an elegant 19th century look that makes you want to spend all day with it, playing out games of the great masters of the past.  I wonder if some company makes an affordable replica of this set?  My preference is for sets with the annotation printed along the sides, but this set you have posted...wow.  

House of Staunton is offering a comparable replica, but I don't know about the affordability. My original was less expensive than their replica. https://www.houseofstaunton.com/the-austrian-coffeehouse-series-chess-pieces-4-0-king.html

Thanks, wasn't aware of that one. Rishi and Gaurav do indeed produce very high quality sets at the Chess Empire.

*sigh* At this point in my life, even that replica is far too expensive for me. Oh well, I do enjoy looking at the beautiful chess sets owned by others!