Actually I was just looking at the pics. I like that look. When I first started playing tournament Chess there was an attorney that had a Lardy he bought as a college student when in Paris. We all had a great time kidding him as the light pieces got darker with age so that it was kind of difficult to tell which color was which. Anyway, the dark pieces looked a lot like those pictured.
What new set should I get?
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May 11, 2020
0
#63
Eyechess wrote:
Actually I was just looking at the pics. I like that look. When I first started playing tournament Chess there was an attorney that had a Lardy he bought as a college student when in Paris. We all had a great time kidding him as the light pieces got darker with age so that it was kind of difficult to tell which color was which. Anyway, the dark pieces looked a lot like those pictured.
That fading seems to happen to a lot of the older French sets. I noticed this Chavet has it too. Personally, I would just re-dye these sets or ebonize them. https://picclick.co.uk/VINTAGE-CHESS-SET-LOADED-CHAVET-STAUNTON-PATTERN-164077435129.html
May 22, 2020
0
#65
All, here's an update on the two sets I got from Noj. First, the Tal 1961 in black stain is just as amazing as everyone said. Wow. I also got the 1941 soviet - I just loved the knights and large pawns and figured if I was paying for shipping I might as well add a second set. I cannot say enough how amazing Gregor was to work with. I manage an investment fund and Gregor was able to help me design custom engraved rooks for my investors.
I love the design of the 1961 Tal. It is just sublime. However, I am also a huge fan of the 1941. The size of the pieces in the hand and is just special. Seems like a great day-to-day set. I will try to play a lot with both and see which one becomes the #1. I put both sets on the board at the same time so you can see the difference in proportions. The weighting of both sets is perfect, as others had assured me. It almost feels like it could just be the wood's weight. Like true quality craftsmanship, I am happy I went with the weights as designed by Noj instead of asking for an unweighted set.
About the board! It's a vintage drueke no.64 (2.25") with the sticker. Walnut and maple which I was fortunate to acquire from Bill Drueke himself. Thanks all for the guidance including those who made previous posts on Noj sets which I was able to reference. Feel honored to be a newcomer to the chess community here.
ricamacho77 wrote:
All, here's an update on the two sets I got from Noj. First, the Tal 1961 in black stain is just as amazing as everyone said. Wow. I also got the 1941 soviet - I just loved the knights and large pawns and figured if I was paying for shipping I might as well add a second set. I cannot say enough how amazing Gregor was to work with. I manage an investment fund and Gregor was able to help me design custom engraved rooks for my investors.
I love the design of the 1961 Tal. It is just sublime. However, I am also a huge fan of the 1941. The size of the pieces in the hand and is just special. Seems like a great day-to-day set. I will try to play a lot with both and see which one becomes the #1. I put both sets on the board at the same time so you can see the difference in proportions. The weighting of both sets is perfect, as others had assured me. It almost feels like it could just be the wood's weight. Like true quality craftsmanship, I am happy I went with the weights as designed by Noj instead of asking for an unweighted set.
About the board! It's a vintage drueke no.64 (2.25") with the sticker. Walnut and maple which I was fortunate to acquire from Bill Drueke himself. Thanks all for the guidance including those who made previous posts on Noj sets which I was able to reference. Feel honored to be a newcomer to the chess community here.
Gorgeous!! I did not realize how beautiful the 1941 Soviet was; it caught my eye in the past, but seeing these pictures of the set in action on a board, with those great knights/pawns, has really peaked my interest in it. Of course, you already know my opinion of the Tal (it is my favorite set). Congrats on the acquisitions; these sets look great on that original Drueke.
Problem with Chess Empire products is they contain slight imperfections from time to time and the proportion between the chess pieces is not accurate.
For example, in the chess empire sets the knights are made too small in relation to the rooks, specially the torso of the knights are the issue. Also, there are size discrepancies, for example, one bishop/rook thinner than the other.
Based on the Lardy sets I've seen the Chess Empire reproduction (https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/726481664/lardy-staunton-35-boxwood-glided-brown?ref=shop_home_active_3&frs=1) is a much closer copy of a Lardy set than the HOS version (https://www.houseofstaunton.com/the-french-lardy-chess-pieces-3-75-king.html). However, the ChessEmpire version is a 3.5" set suitable for 2" square board and the HOS version is a 3.75" set which would work better with a 2.25" board. Not really direct competitors. Bear in mind that when importing the Chess Empire set yourself you will have to pay import duties and taxes additional to the purchase price. Nice set at any price though.
I bought the HoS version when they came out with it a number of years ago. At the same time they came out with the B H Wood set. I like the BH Wood set a lot better.
With the Chess Empire set being shorter it might be better balanced than the HoS version. I might look to buy one. This is interesting.
I really like the ChessEmpire Lardy repro. I have posted some pics here of it on a 2" square board. Most of my repros are Frank's "Timeless" Jaques copies but CE have just nailed this Lardy.
Do you know if they have it in anything other than the gilded?
Of course the stain is what the original ones were, I think.
I don't think they have any other versions. My photos are awful, unfortunately, but to me it just looks like a slightly aged brown. Rishi is often on the facebook group, I'm sure you could ask him if it can be done in a different finish.