Unicorn knights on Dubrovnik sets: Where did those come from?

I've always wondered why previous replicas of Dubrovnik sets from India had those much-maligned "Unicorn knights" - where did they come from?

Well, apparently, SOME original made-in-Yugoslavia sets had something like that, i.e. protruding manes on the knights. Here's one such set:

Just look at that black knight:

That might be an explanation how Indian companies got the idea.

No. Someone (from the former Yugoslavia) posted it on Facebook.

Can you share the FB page here please?

There is another vid recently posted with a 60s version of the Dubrovnick. Awesome material.

Hi all,

Like many of you, I'm a big fan of the Dubrovnik-style chess pieces. I own a few high-end wooden along with a couple of cheap plastic Dubrovnik reproductions of the 1950s (Olympiad) and 1970s (Fischer-style) models.

Lately, though, I’ve been obsessed with the style shared in this post. I love how sleek and slender the pieces are, and especially how simple, 'squared' and sharp the knight looks—it almost feels like it could slice pieces off the board!

Anyway, a while ago, I came across a YouTube video from a chess enthusiast discussing a similar set. The video was titled "Identification of an old dubrovnik chess set" (if I'm not mistaken) but unfortunately, it seems that it is no longer available.

I’d love to learn more about this set. Does anyone have any additional information?

Cheers!

What would you like to know about this set?

Hi @Suboseg

And thanks for joining the discussion. I'm currently wondering:

1. When were these pieces produced, and is there any known history behind their production?
2. How do these pieces come to differ in design and craftsmanship from the original Dubrovnik sets?
3. Do you have any insights into why the knight, in particular, was designed with such a squared, sharp look? Was it meant to be a design statement or have some functional purpose in play?
4. Was this set associated with any major tournaments? There seems to be photos of the Internalzonal Tournament in Portoroz 1958 where similar pieces were used (except that the Knights don't seem as squared as in the photos from @chessmaster_diamond). Maybe some major tournaments in the 60s?
5. Why do you think these pieces haven't received as much attention or admiration compared to the more classic Dubrovnik models?

Anyway, any additional information would be valuable to add to the story of this beautiful set.

Cheers!

Image source: https://en.chessbase.com/post/endgame-riddle-fischer-vs-bronstein-portoroz-1958

I'll answer the first and second question together. In the 1950s, when the Dubrovnik chess set was invented, there were boards with 40, 50 and 60mm squares in Yugoslavia. There was no board with 55mm squares. That's why the first Dubrovniks were made for boards with 60mm squares. This especially applies to the diameter of the pawn base. According to FIDE recommendations, 4 pawns should fit into one square. For some for me unknown reason, they always took this rule very seriously in Yugoslavian Chess Federation. That's why in the First Dubrovniks, the pawns have a base diameter of 30mm. But later, during the 50s, boards with 55mm squares came along and they became the most popular. That's when sets like this were created. They reduced the diameter of the pawn base to 28mm, and the king hight was increased to 95mm (in the original it was 90mm), which is also a FIDE recommendation. They also reduced the diameter of the other pieces proportionally and increased the height, so they turned out thinner and taller than the originals. This is how it looks on a board with 55mm squares. The first is this set, the second is a variant of 1950 Dubrovnik with pawns with a 30mm diameter, and the third is a Jakopovic with pawns with a 32mm diameter.

3. I don't know, but because of the large and smooth surface, it is extremely good for gripping and does not fall out of the hand.

4. I can't say with 100% certainty, but it seems to me that this set was used in many important competitions in the late 50s and throughout the 60s.

This is the set from that picture you posted:

I made a comparison with the knight on g1, they are very similar if not the same:

5. I am surprised that this set has not been mentioned anywhere until now, and it can be seen(at least that's what I think) in many historical pictures from important tournaments:

etc.

Thank you so much, @Suboseg, for sharing your knowledge and photos! Comparing the different styles and referencing old tournament photos is incredibly helpful—it really clarifies things.

It’s also a pleasure to see your pieces, they’re beautifully preserved and look fantastic. It’s a shame that no one has been able to reproduce these pieces accurately—not even NOJ, who, in my opinion is one of the best chess manufacturers in the world, has come the closest.

You’re absolutely right—a detailed look at these photos makes it clear that these are indeed the pieces from the set you shared (Knight and four pawns on the left in your photo). All the pieces are noticeably taller and thinner, with Bishops and Kings featuring a distinct design, along with the characteristic ‘skinny’ Rooks and squared Knights—truly a remarkable set!

I love unweighted pieces, and I imagine these were all produced unweighted at the time. I wonder if their higher proportions and thinner bases affect their stability compared to the 1950s design.

Thanks again!

Yes, this set is less stable than the original. Not as much as one might expect, because the pieces are also thinner on the upper parts, and not only at the base, so the weight is similarly distributed. But yes, the originals, and especially the best Jakopovics, are more stable.

Not a Dubrovnik… but I had to take these unicorn horns off… !!

It is even possible that my set is in this picture:

By comparing the pieces, it can be easily established that it is probably the same type of set:

But what makes me think that this is exactly that set is the anomaly on the king:

Of course, I will never be 100% sure, but considering the rarity of this set, it is possible.

Hi @Suboseg,

Judging by the design of the pieces, it's very likely that your set was produced during that period (1950–1958?). I love the elegance of each piece, especially the Knight. It's also possible that a different manufacturer streamlined the 1950s design originally produced at the Jakopovic workshop. Either way, it's a wonderful set, and you're lucky to own it!

Cheers