Vienna Coffeehouse set

Got this set from eBay seller Igor. Some of you guys have bought from him before, he's an excellent seller I'd say. I was really surprised, in a good way, to see the pieces are carefully wrapped.

Never thought that I would like this kind of chess set but I am now. I guess this is what they say getting out of your comfort zone.

Looks great Michael....I hope you get much pleasure from that gem.

Btw,you're really starting to rack up quite a few sets,having told me you currently own 60.I think you need a few more shelves and shopping bags too....Ha!

Well I'm thinking to start crowdfunding for buying a house next to mr Holger. Those houses come with plenty shelves I saw

It's beautiful.. And they are like from a time capsule, like fresh coffee beans. Nice grind!

TOCM , I hope it works out  the crowdfunding / if not you can join SpanishStallion & his virtual reality chess set collection , way cheaper ,

That's a nice set / love the knights

Beautiful! I only have a repro but it is one of my favourite sets. Austrian coffee house pieces have a range of variants but they all seem relatively simple and wonderfully playable. It’s something about their bases and their stability. Like Sandor’s, Romanian-Hungarian pieces - coffee house sets are immediately identifiable while being supremely functional on the board.

A question to collectors - why do some of these older sets have knight heads that are glossy, and obviously distinguishable in colour and finish from both their own bases but also other pieces? An old French Regence set I recently purchased has this too. Many, many sets do when I look online at pieces. It seems strange and I’d like to know why - if anyone has any insight.

PS - beautiful board too!

Very nice set Michael!

I actually was wondering the same @Powderdigit, have the same in the Chavet I bought where the patina on the knights is much lighter than on the other pieces, something I noticed on a lot of Lardys as well.  Other selection of wood pieces for easier intricate carving maybe?

Cheers gents! 

@Powderdigit they are indeed surprisingly playable even unweighted. Most of such sets are unweighted but I happen to have one set that is weighted from the factory.

The set is gorgious. Mind sending some link for the above.

Is it a reproduction/ copy or an original historical one.?

All original baby!

To anyone who does not know Igor, he is a fabulous eBay seller. He lives in Austria and is constantly on the lookout for vintage chess items. I got my MOM clock from him and it is fabulous. He also has his Performance Chess Clocks website, a sort of virtual chess clock museum.

To Michael, I must say that set looks even better in person than it did on eBay. I check Igor's store there regularly, and saw he has had a few Coffeehouse sets lately. Yours looks absolutely fabulous. Congrats on a great pick-up.

I suppose it is time for a confession. Like many guilty chess collecting addicts, I sometimes do not reveal my purchases here on the forums. However to be fair, I got a reproduction Austrian Coffeehouse set back in February. This does not mean I don't want one of Igor's vintage sets as well, especially since he has some of the older style sets, and mine is a reproduction of the more modern ones. Also since I like my sets to have variety, and had not gotten one like this, here is the set I purchased.

Yes I got a red and white lacquered set. I had seen several red sets but had never gotten one. This set had been calling to me for quite a while, but was out of stock on Royal Chess Mall for a very long time. When they sent me an email saying it was back in stock, I placed my order the same day. I love it and the color is so rich and striking. Still, Igor's vintage sets are still calling me, as are a couple of his clocks. I just have to limit my chess expenditures every month, being retired and on a somewhat limited budget. So many chess items, not enough money.

The spare king somehow reminds me of the incident with a little girl I played a game with. On my encouragement, one of her pawns reached the promotion square. Me: 'Choose whatever you want, except a king' Her: 'It's supposed to stay a pawn'

Really nice set David...Looks good enough to take a bite out of.....Candy like eye appeal.

@magictwanger Thanks buddy, Of course that's one of RCM's pics. I think mine will look better when I get them taken and organized. I have a high gloss blackwood and curly maple board that they look stunning on. I thought being retired would be a life of ease, but I seem to be as busy as ever. Tomorrow is our weekly meeting at my new club, but I am awaiting a delivery of a book, and have to be home, otherwise the neighborhood porch pirates will take it without knowing what it is. So if it has not arrived by 4:30 no club for me tomorrow.

Here's a very similar set in red and black I purchased recently. It's a small set (55mm king) and only for display purposes, matches a couple of vases my wife bought some time ago so I'm trying to get her hooked on the aesthetic beauty of chess sets 😁

Nice set as well.Ya' gotta' love those Coffee House designs.

Btw David,my retirement has me more tired than when I owned my business.I get two little grandkids off to school a minimum of 2 days weekly....Getting up at 6 a.m. is not for me...Then there's playing hide and seek,or Peter Pan(me being Capt. Hook) when they get home.

I have to workout at the gym just to keep up....Ha!

As for the eye appeal and beauty of a glossy set,I was stunned when I got my C.B. 1940's Soviet Club set.

I'm not a huge fan of C.B. but they did a fantastic job on this design.The workmanship and lacquer application reminds me of fine Yadro Porcelain figurine....This was one time C.B. surprised me.