Vintage Soviet Sixties Set

Others have posted photos of this set, and Kadun makes a very nice reproduction for what was the last time I checked a pretty reasonable price, and ChessBazaar has knocked it off too, but I always wanted an original if the price was right. Finally, it was, and this arrived today from St. Petersburg. More detailed photos will follow later.

Very Cool !! Did the Kings have finials at one time ? I know many were snapped off if the sets ended up in Russia as opposed to the other SSR's.

Nice Chuck! we are putting this set (below) to production soon...

Where they snapped off because of anti-monarchy sentiments or by accident because the pieces were extensively used or carried around in the typical unpadded storage space found inside their folding boards?  Just curious, Ronbo.

By the way, some sets sold on eBay are missing the finials on both king and queen.

Very good looking set Carl. Exactly what era does the above set come from? 

Thanks, Ron. I think they finials just came out over the years, regardless of the republic in which they originated. That's certainly the case with my sets.

Thanks, Carl. Your new set is very much like my Latvian sets, but with a larger, more elaborate knight.

Thanks Mike, no idea of the era though...I just love the design and of course the one piece knights! :) 

I think I have the same set. The kings had finials, it is just that the finial is too fragile and the set is old. One of my kings still have it.

Yes the knights are once again the main piece of the set and the rooks and pawns are pretty cool looking too.  The pawns are growing on me more and more. 

Exquisite proportionality, Chuck. The thin shafts contrast smartly with the bulbous bases.  Very stately, I think.  I can imagine Tal staring over a set like this!

Thanks, Mark. This isn't Tal, but it's the set...

Thanks, for the photos, ganz_unten!

Here are the pics I promised...

Without their finials, the kings stand a tad over 70 mm. With them I'd put them at about 75 mm. They are lightly weighted. Combined with their massive bases, they're very stable. I tilted them and the queens to 45 degrees mulitple times, and they always righted themselves.

The bishops, again, contrast their thin stems with their bulbous heads and bases...

More than anything, the angular beauty of the knights draws me to this set...

The milk-can rooks are thick and squat...