Eyechess mentioned the 4" HoC Zagreb Staunton knight (with photo). But you have to compare it to a standard Zagreb knight from a set of the same size to get a true sense of its scale and proportion.
A substantial knight that really fills the hand. Tactilely, it's probably my favorite knight. And it looks pretty good from the front too.
Yeah, those are SUBSTANTIAL!
Let's go back to that quote from HoS again:
The design of the Zagreb '59 Chess set is an adaptation of the most popular Chess set used at major international Chess tournaments throughout the 1950s and 1960s, most notably the World Championship Candidates Match that was held in Bied, Zagreb in 1959.
I interpret this as saying that the Zagrab is based on a popular set (Dubrovnik?) that was used in the '50s and '60s. I don't see any claim that the Zagreb is an historical reproduction of a set from that time, which has bothered others on this forum. Of course, the Zagreb is significantly different from the Dubrovnik, so I see it as a rather loose adaptation of the Dubrovnik.
And if it is based on the Dubrovnik, then the HoC set is the most like the Dubrovnik without being like the Dubrovnik, if you know what I mean.
I still wonder where that Knight design came from.
And if it is based on the Dubrovnik, then the HoC set is the most like the Dubrovnik without being like the Dubrovnik, if you know what I mean.
I still wonder where that Knight design came from.
The design was influenced by Russian knight and Frank Camaratta's imagination.
Let's go back to that quote from HoS again:
The design of the Zagreb '59 Chess set is an adaptation of the most popular Chess set used at major international Chess tournaments throughout the 1950s and 1960s, most notably the World Championship Candidates Match that was held in Bied, Zagreb in 1959.
I interpret this as saying that the Zagrab is based on a popular set (Dubrovnik?) that was used in the '50s and '60s. I don't see any claim that the Zagreb is an historical reproduction of a set from that time, which has bothered others on this forum. Of course, the Zagreb is significantly different from the Dubrovnik, so I see it as a rather loose adaptation of the Dubrovnik.
Cyklone & Nadin,
I bought into the HoS hype and bought their Zagreb set about 10 years ago. When people would ask me about the set, I would retell the tale. Then one day I thought to myself, if this set was used in so many important tournaments in the 50's and 60's, then I should be able to find some photographic evidence. But as hard as I tried, I couldn't find any photos from the this time period -- zip, nada, nihil -- not a one! Which leaves us with a mystery as to the origin of this design.
If anyone can find a vintage photo showing a "Zagreb" style set in play during this period, please post it here so the rest of us can see.
Help solve this WTFDICF (where the frack did it come from?) mystery. If Frank Camaratta did, in fact, pull a rabbit out of his hat, maybe there was an existing set of similar design that he liberally "borrowed" from?
Let's go back to that quote from HoS again:
The design of the Zagreb '59 Chess set is an adaptation of the most popular Chess set used at major international Chess tournaments throughout the 1950s and 1960s, most notably the World Championship Candidates Match that was held in Bied, Zagreb in 1959.
I interpret this as saying that the Zagrab is based on a popular set (Dubrovnik?) that was used in the '50s and '60s. I don't see any claim that the Zagreb is an historical reproduction of a set from that time, which has bothered others on this forum. Of course, the Zagreb is significantly different from the Dubrovnik, so I see it as a rather loose adaptation of the Dubrovnik.
Cyklone & Nadin,
I bought into the HoS hype and bought their Zagreb set about 10 years ago. When people would ask me about the set, I would retell the tale. Then one day I thought to myself, if this set was used in so many important tournaments in the 50's and 60's, then I should be able to find some photographic evidence. But as hard as I tried, I couldn't find any photos from the this time period -- zip, nada, nihil -- not a one! Which leaves us with a mystery as to the origin of this design.
If anyone can find a vintage photo showing a "Zagreb" style set in play during this period, please post it here so the rest of us can see.
Help solve this WTFDICF (where the frack did it come from?) mystery. If Frank Camaratta did, in fact, pull a rabbit out of his hat, maybe there was an existing set of similar design that he liberally "borrowed" from?
He borrowed the design from bunch of Soviet and Yugoslav sets
That's debatable. I've heard that he got the inspiration for the knight from Etruscan horse statues, and mixed that w/ the idea of opposite color finials seen in Eastern European sets to create a made up design with a fake pedigree. Something HoS has been doing a lot (they frequently just copy a vintage set and name it after some unrelated tournament).
Let's go back to that quote from HoS again:
The design of the Zagreb '59 Chess set is an adaptation of the most popular Chess set used at major international Chess tournaments throughout the 1950s and 1960s, most notably the World Championship Candidates Match that was held in Bied, Zagreb in 1959.
I interpret this as saying that the Zagrab is based on a popular set (Dubrovnik?) that was used in the '50s and '60s. I don't see any claim that the Zagreb is an historical reproduction of a set from that time, which has bothered others on this forum. Of course, the Zagreb is significantly different from the Dubrovnik, so I see it as a rather loose adaptation of the Dubrovnik.
Cyklone & Nadin,
I bought into the HoS hype and bought their Zagreb set about 10 years ago. When people would ask me about the set, I would retell the tale. Then one day I thought to myself, if this set was used in so many important tournaments in the 50's and 60's, then I should be able to find some photographic evidence. But as hard as I tried, I couldn't find any photos from the this time period -- zip, nada, nihil -- not a one! Which leaves us with a mystery as to the origin of this design.
If anyone can find a vintage photo showing a "Zagreb" style set in play during this period, please post it here so the rest of us can see.
Help solve this WTFDICF (where the frack did it come from?) mystery. If Frank Camaratta did, in fact, pull a rabbit out of his hat, maybe there was an existing set of similar design that he liberally "borrowed" from?
He borrowed the design from bunch of Soviet and Yugoslav sets
Yes wasn't this style of knight once dubbed the 'Russian Knight" ?
Here is one I that is called "Russian Chessmen". I have seen this set in a few different places, but this particular picture I picked from Chesshouse.
Hmmm.... not quite sure of the relevance here.
LOL! The Petroleum Defense no doubt.
I posted this picture in other posts. But since here is Zagreb post, why not post again
HOS 2.875" Rosewood Zagreb. Gorgeous set. One of my favorites so far.
I am a big fan of Zagreb design and currently own CB Zagreb 3.9” version. Do not confuse this set with their more popular Zagreb version. It is quite different. Here is a link:
https://www.chessbazaar.com/old-1959-russian-zagreb-staunton-chess-pieces-in-sheesham-wood-boxwood-3-8-king.html
And here is a link to my post where you can see the set in Drueke style JLP board:
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/sheesham-pieces-on-walnut-board-contrast
Also, there is a different post here where someone shares “the original” vintage Zagreb set. And to be honest it does look like it could’ve been the “inspiration set” that HOS used to come up with their design. I know we have some experts in this forum. Could you guys please take a look at that set and share your take on it?
Here is a link:
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/original-zagreb-chess-set
I checked your link. Nice looking Zagreb set from CB and at a very good price. But it states it is not covered by the warranty. Why would that be?
I might guess that’s because they get it from some specific different supplier (maybe). I bought many sets from them and usually they would put extension to the set code when they start selling a slightly different version of the set they already sell. I would think probably it means also a different supplier that they cannot cover by warranty for some reason. Or maybe they don’t do their quality control for these sets and really on the supplier. The price for such sets usually also much lower for the same reason. That’s my theory on it.
Example: S1236 is their main Zagreb set from main supplier. My set is S1236-A and it’s different from the main version, costs less and not covered by warranty.
Loop holes still exist though, because they still would replace pieces if damaged during shipment...
There is a photo of the 4 knights at the start of this topic from the house of chess.
I owned 2 of those sets when I lived in Thailand, I think that the dark wood is a special type of rosewood but I am too lazy to look it up.
I really liked those sets, the boxwood and rosewood and the knights of course were very nice.
A few things however...
It took quite a while for the sets to arrive, 4 to 6 weeks I think, probably made to order.
The rosewood is very, very fragile. A black king was knocked over and fell on the floor and the base lost quite a big chip of wood.
The sets are triple weighted and no joking with the box they weigh a ton.
A very nice set to keep at home for slow games.
Not a set to play blitz or to lug around, it will damage easily.
House of Staunton is misleading about their description of the Zagreb 59'. Don't get me wrong I love the design. However the only piece that is an adaptation is maybe the Bishops. Everything else is a work of marketing fiction. Yugo sets never had opposite colored finials on kings and queens. Also the king's finial never had a cross or a ball spiked finial. There are pictures of the 59' Zagreb tournament and they all show the Dubrovnik sets.
the Zagreb design .......a design that was extremely popular in Eastern Europe in the 1950's and 60's, and was the design used in the 1959 World Championship Candidates Tournament in Bled, Zagreb. This set's most noticeable feature is, perhaps, the contrasting coloured cross and ball finials on the King, Queen and Bishop pieces.
This design was never in popular in Yugoslavia and it never existed in Yugoslavia,only popular design in Yugoslavia was Dubrovnik chess set.You said that this set was used in 1959 candidate tournament,no my friend on tournamet in 1959 they used Dubrovnik 1955 version or better known as Fischer set.Maybe Zagreb design was popular in small city in Yugoslavia that was called Pizda Materina.I have proof for everything that I said.
Honestly, I have never in my life heard the more offensive name of a town. I mean if you translate it to Polish
It's joke It's not serious