What is the ‘European Pattern Chessmen’?

I recently saw some discussion about Chavet and a set referred to as ‘European’, which are apparently very similar. But I can’t find much information about the European set. Does anyone have more information? When was it released? Who was the designer?

I’ve also seen the set referred to by the name ‘Timeless’. Why is this?

@wandelkoningin

Perhaps a non ChatGPT perspective...

I would consider "European" or "timeless" to be adjectives to describe a set and not the name of a particular design. Perhaps resellers used these terms for marketing purposes. Nathaniel Cooke's Staunton design certainly set the "standard" for chess design but I haven't heard it referred to as European or timeless (but this may be apt).

As a designer, you might be more familiar with contemporary vs modern styles. Perhaps these adjectives are meant to refer to a contemporary styled set?

DGT is a company well known for producing chess boards and pieces. You will see DGT boards (standard and electronic) at almost every tournament. They sell a set they named DGT Timeless. I wonder if others are using the term because it is the name of a popular DGT set. DGT Timeless does look very similar to Henri Chavet as you mentioned... but it was DGT that named their design Timeless.

You might find this thread interesting: https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/german-knight-origin

The design of the German knight always struck me as one of the worst, but hey, to each his own.

I think several links are necessary to trace this name back to.

I'll start with the 1987 World Championship in Seville, Spain. The Spanish set offered to the two candidates, an Indajesa, was reportedly not unanimously approved. Both players reportedly requested that the knights be modified to resemble Chavet's. They had been using them for several years in numerous tournaments across Europe.

Indajesa was then bought (?) by Mora, who reissued the 1987 set (Conjunto Staunton Sevilla 87) as well as variants based on the same knight. The design is very similar to Chavet's, with one notable difference: the necks of the knights. The one in Chavet is inclined while the one in Mora (Indajesa) is horizontal.

These sets are marketed under the name "Staunton Europa."

For the record, Roz, another French turner, after a falling out with his rider supplier (Chavet), decided to buy from Mora.

I also believe that a few months later, Indian turners began copying the Chavet and Indajesa models, making the Timesless or German models that would flood the entire planet...