Top Chess Piece Designs

Recently I've read posts asking for advice about what chess pieces to purchase. This is sometimes from a new collector and they would like some help picking a design. I'm working on a personal design project and not looking for specific manufacturers of sets. I'm looking for chess piece designs.

What do you think are the top 3 or 5 most unique, popular, notable, influential, innovative or historical chess piece designs? I'm trying to focus less on what people like or dislike and more on the design (love it or hate it). Bonus points if you can name the designer (or original seller/manufacturer) and year it was designed or first introduced.

For example, I'd probably list:

1. "Staunton", designed by Nathaniel Cooke (1849). Simply because it helped standardize chess piece design and is the basis for most modern sets.
2. "Dubrovnik", designed by Pero Pocek (1950). Often loved because it a favourite of Bobby Fischer who was frequently photographed with it (such as on the cover of Life magazine) and spoke frequently of his Dubrovnik pieces.
3. Herman Ohme Chess Set, designed by Hermann Ohme (1954). Perhaps the simple mid-century design yet very Staunton look makes it a classic? Or perhaps the more abstract Bauhaus design by Hartwig?
4. 1962 Soviet Championship Set, unknown designer. I select this because of the work others in the community have done to help revive this set from the cover of Tal's book. A true project of love. I don't think any other country may have had such an impact on chess as the former Soviet Union did. As a result, I think they a long history with the game and it is interesting to take note of designs that may have been popular there. I think the chunky base is unique and interesting and may be a good design to represent the time (there are likely other Soviet designs, but I selected this because of its popularity amongst collectors). Or perhaps the design seen in the finale of Queen's Gambit that caused a resurgence of interest in chess?
5. Best Chessmen Ever, designed by "Izmet" (2012). Stage 1 design (eastern and western). Minimalist but more Staunton compared to Hermann Ohme. In many ways BCE has a simpler (and sexier?) silhouette. Also interesting in that it's offered in eastern and western designs.
6. Perhaps Lewis Chessmen could be on the list but I am thinking mostly of modern designs. Feel free to suggest a pre-Staunton design that you think is notable (though I'm trying to avoid themed sets unless you think one deserves to be mentioned).

Very good list. Often, it is the interpretation of an old design that wins the day (or loses it), and the devil is in the details.

The designs that interest me lately are to harder-to-find modern designs (20th C) by luminaries from the art world such as Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, Alberto Giacometti, etc.
Larry List’s book The Imagery of Chess Revisited (exhibition catalogue) is terrific in documenting some of those amazing sets - many produced for the 1944 Imagery of Chess exhibition & ‘event’. This includes set that preceded the 1944 show, e.g. the Hartwig/Bauhaus you included above, and those that have followed such as Lanier and the Ohme, which you also mention.
The Ohme and Hartwig are readily available, as is the beautiful Man Ray design (generally expensive though). Others are not.

https://worldchesshof.org/exhibit/designing-chessmen-taste-imagery-chess

Man Ray created several designs, or maybe you could say several variations of his well known design. My avatar is my 3d print of his design blueprint in the link above.

Very interesting - I don’t mean to hijack this thread, but the engagement of leading artists with chess design is fascinating - Duchamp once said something like, ‘All artists are not chess players, but all chess players are artists.’

I picked up someone’s effort to make a Max Ernst set. Not perfect, but still a delight to have.

Donner said chess is no art, because whenever there is freedom, the game is over

But even if it can be, children draw pictures and we play chess.

I like modern designs, too. But most I like horses on the chess board. At the knight, the functional design stops and says, let's preserve the persons represented in chess pieces and work them out into soulful knights. That's also functional, human pieces. (Or is it just me )

So, if you want to go abstract with the knight piece, you will have to work wonders. Bauhaus did do the jump with the Escheresque knight, just that the other pieces or the set as a whole are not that compelling (again, that is for me). Man Ray made such a human ensemble of ratio, muses and fertility I love that set very much. Duchamp keeps close to the Staunton, but great stuff, and what knights!

Hartwig Bauhaus set, early 1920ies

(Collection of Doug Polumbaum, photo found in the very nice worldchesshof link given above in #3)

Man Ray set 1926

Duchamp set and knight from 1919

Thank you. What other notable chess piece designs are there? What would be your top designs? It doesn't have to be minimalist or modern. Maybe a design made popular by a particular player or something in popular culture? For example, some may think a 1950s Mordovian-"Latvian" chess piece design may deserve to be on a list because of it's appearance on Netflix's Queen's Gambit.

On a separate topic... I've never seen a chess table with integrated chess clocks like that one.

My favourite has to be the Herman Ohme Design. It is modern and elegant design. Also looks so minimalist and classy.

Amazing! I thought this was the Man Ray set at first, which came out just one year later in 1945.

Nevermind. I already mentioned this in this thread

I have been working on a Google Sheets document for the last weeks documenting chess sets of historical significance. I thought it was going to be a relatively short project, just to get a sense of what chess sets would be fun to gift my wife; chess sets that are beautiful, but have some historical relevance and/or an interesting background as well. This document has turned way more comprehensive than intended, and it’s fair to say that working on this document has become an obsessive hobby. I Awill share the link once the document is a bit more complete. To get a sense of what I’m working on, here are three of the 62 entries on this sheet:

I feel these three sets are immediately worth mentioning:

An 1860 William Hallett reproduction by Staunton Castle.

The Hallet chess set is beautiful and quite unique to me, with the big-headed queen, the tulip-like bishop, and the fat-bellied knight. Even though it’s clearly a Staunton design, I feel that this set gives a nod back to the pre-Staunton Selenus set.

A late Victorian Austrian coffeehouse reproduction by House of Staunton.

The Austrian coffeehouse chess sets are often quite charming; robust, with quite unique, often almost swine-like knights. Some of the knights remind me of the later Mordovian (“Latvian”) chess sets. The crowns of the king and queen are quite prominent and robust, and the rim of the rook is often quite oversized, which looks satisfying to me. The bishops of the old sets are generally the opposite color, but reproductions are even more fun; I’ve seen them with beehive-like heads, and with acorn-like hats in the opposite color (as in the reproduction above). Such a charming set, with quite a bit of history; they were the main set used in Poland from 1920 to 1960.

A 1951–1954 ‘Česká Klubovka’ reproduction by Staunton Castle.

The Czech club set shown above was quite an amazing find for me. I ordered a set for my wife a few weeks ago, based on how charming and “warm” it felt to me. Like sitting in front of the fireplace during the fall, if that makes any sense. I like the brickwork in the rooks, the medieval vibe, the refined knight, and the acorn-like heads of the bishop and king. It wasn’t until after I ordered the set that I found out it had a very significant history. At this point it was the earliest chess set I had in my stylesheet, and it’s certainly quite an early Staunton design, but it has been handled by many grandmasters, and was used in quite a few prominent chess tournaments.

You already mentioned the Mordovian (“Latvian”) chess set. One of the most popular designs of the Soviet era. I love the candle-like design of several of the pieces, and how their elegance is contrasted by such wide/large knights. Such a fun set. I’m currently looking for an original set to give to my stepson for Christmas. It’s his favorite set. I’m not finding any in pristine condition, but that’s okay. I’m just going to get one with knights I particularly like, and paint them to make them look like new.

An original Botvinnik Flohr-II (set 2).

In terms of Soviet sets, I also briefly want to mention the Botvinnik–Flohr sets which comes in three types with incremental design changes. The first one came out in 1933, the second in 1935, and the third in 1938. Notably the third design comes in three “sets” which are subtly different. Fascinating history. So many variants on the knights in particular. Above is an original Botvinnik Flohr-II (set 2). Read more about their history and design changes here: Chess Pieces of the 1933 Botvinnik-Flohr Match: An Ongoing Enigma

Somewhat related to that seems to be the Shkolnik below. Another Soviet design, but I can’t find anything on its history. Someone mentioned it’s a 1920s design, while another source said it’s from the 1970s. Either way, I find the long mitre of the bishop so beautiful. It reminds me of the 1960 Mikhail Tal Chessmen set. I considered getting the Shkolnik fore my wife, before I went with the Czech club set instead.

A Soviet Shkolnik reproduction

@chesslover0003 already mentioned the Dubrovnik. Another beautiful Soviet set. I just want to add that I’m a fan of the Zagreb ’59 Series chess set in particular, which is a reproduction based on the ’70s Dubrovnik. I really like this knight design, although I’ve learned that it’s a ’90s design which has nothing to do with the original sets from 1949 (Pero Poček), 1960 (Andrija Maurović), or 1970.

Zagreb ’59 Series chess set by House of Staunton.

And finally, I want to mention the French Chavet from the 1980s, by Henry Chavet. I think it’s one of the most beautiful minimalist designs. Highly usuable and functional, and favorited by many chess players for that reason. It was often used in chess tournaments in the ’80s and ’90s.

A Chavet reproduction by the Chess Empire.

And I think that will more or less do for historical sets. I mean, there are more to mention, but you will see them once I share my stylesheet. I also get a kick out of modern sets with fairly unique designs and ornate knights, even when they lack any historical significance. For example, I got the Westminster set below in a clearance sale from House of Staunton. I really love the knight design, with its art nouveau-like manes. Designed by Mandeep Saggu. I have it in my office since last week, but I haven’t looked at it yet. I will see them once I gift them to my wife for Christmas. I’m excited!

The Westminster Series Artisan chess pieces by House of Staunton.

I’m quite amused that I got so into researching chess sets, especially since I have no interest in playing the game. I used to play it casually here and there. My wife and stepson are serious players though, so it’s fun to have some connection with them via chess, even if I’m the only person in the house who doesn’t play.

I'd like to add a few points...

• Yugoslavia was not part of the Soviet Union. It was an Eastern bloc country (or coalition or ally) of the Soviet Union and other countries that shared communist ideologies. As such, Pero Pocek, Andrej Maurovic and Jakopovic were Yogoslavian and not Soviet.
• IMO, Chavet is not a particularly notable design. Rather, it has a nostalgic following for being a French made set. What is unique is the wood used from the Jura Mountains that has a beautiful swirling wood grain unlike any other wood. A reproduction will not use this wood and will be pointless (but if you like the design who am I to doubt what you like). I'd recommend an actual set made with Jura wood.
• The Morodovian-Latvian set is very elegant and many companies do reproductions. This is the set that was recently popularized by the Netflix series the Queen's Gambit. You can pair it with a board from Rechapados Ferrer (the company that made the board seen in the series).

Is the set primarily for display or do you expect it to be used at all?

Do you know a minimalist chess set—albeit not too minimalist like the Poni or Man Ray sets—that you do consider to be notable?

Which set are you asking about? Either way, I imagine both the Westminster and Morodovian sets won’t be used. My wife and stepson play with a weighted plastic set. And as for the Morodovian set, he had the idea to display historical chess sets with chess positions played by grandmasters who used each set in a significant tournament. His favorite chess player is Tal, and considering the set has at least a tenuous connection to him (I recently learned that the claim that it was his favorite set can’t actually be corroborated), I’m pretty sure he will display it in a Tal position.

It is quite minimalist, however, one of my favourite is Best Chessmen Ever Stage 1. Harder and more expensive to find unfortunately.

I like it because I feel it is an original design that forgoes design language of most chess sets. For example, Daniel Weil describes chess pieces in architectural terms containing base, shaft and capital. BCE blurs the line between these elements and is a seamless silhouette that rises from the board. Very sexy IMO.

You might appreciate this video.

Are you referring to the chess set that appeared on the cover of Tal's book? I did a post about this (link). This set is often referred to as a Tal set simply because it appeared in the cover of his book. The game was played in the 1962 Soviet Chess Championship but he didn't win the tournament and previously won the Soviet championship. I don't know why @cgrau selected this design for his research... possibly because he didn't have an original set (he later found an original set).

Yugoslavia was a communist country, but since 1948 it was not part of the Eastern Bloc. It was in conflict with the Soviet Union, and because of this, the members of the Eastern Bloc boycotted the Chess Olympiad in Dubrovnik.

Pero Pocek was not Yugoslav, he was born in Montenegro and was a Montenegrin, but in 1924 he acquired Italian citizenship and changed his name to Pietro. It is unlikely that he has anything to do with the Dubrovnik chess set.

Thank you for the correction.

My understanding is that Pero Pocek was commissioned to design the set for the 1950 Chess Olympiad in Dubrovnik. These sets were made by Jakopovic.

The real history Not the made up story https://www.dumus.hr/en/cultural-history-museum/exhibition/nations-tournament-the-9th-chess-olympiad-in-dubrovnik-in-1950/

Note . The chess pieces were designed by the well known artist Andrija Maurović and were made in the workshop of the master craftsman Vjekoslav Jakopović in Zagreb.

Unsure how this is verified as "the real history" and what supporting evidence there is. Nonetheless, I see it is now potentially disputed that Pero Pocek designed the set for the Olympiad.

I see the update:

"It is claimed by at least one Serbian chess collector that the first 1950 Dubrovnik was designed by Josip Poček, but this information is still not verified and is heavily disputed by the some members of Croatian Chess Federation. It is quite possible that the original 1950 Dubrovnik was designed by Croatian cartoonist Andrija Maurović and made in Zagreb, but we are not yet sure."

Then may be take it up with the Museum , If you disagree & tell them there are wrong ?

I’m not saying they are wrong. I don’t know who’s right. I’d like to understand why it’s disputed and what leads someone to think one way or the other.

Using language like ”the real history” makes me think there is some nationalist pride involved if Pero Pocek isn’t Yugoslavian or Croatian.

So may be the wood came from Serbia then it was made in Croatian in Zagreb . Sound like the game of thrones ? It's mine no it's mine