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Vintage Chess Sets


Al Kowsky

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I was prompted to post this thread because the FIDE World Chess Championship began yesterday in Atana, Kazakhstan. GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (that's a mouthful 😂) from Russia, versus Ding Liren from China. Where I live in upstate NY, the games begin at 5:00 am. I'm a "chessnut" so I'll be watching the games until the match is over. The Russian won today's game quickly in 29 moves & is heavily favored to win the tournament. The winner gets 1.2 million Euros & the loser gets .8 million euros 😮! Pictured below are some beautiful & historically important, & often humorous chess sets ☺️.

LewisChessmenNationalMuseumofScotland.jpg.eaf701c6863266b3b9530e302b3a9e74.jpg

These are examples from the world's most famous chess set, the Lewis Chessmen, carved in Norway from walrus ivory, circa AD 1200. National Museum of Scotland & the BM.

The next group of photos are from the Ciaran Rockford Collection.

NapoleonvsGeorgeIII.jpg.56cc5efb10fc504191e6f12dfe07022c.jpg

French carved wood set depicting the forces of Napoleon & George III.

Bearwolfset.jpg.b49a788cae2291e27a4cfed17f4e6bb0.jpg

European carved wood set depicting Bears versus Wolves.

SovietUnionmid20thcen..jpg.cc4b7a2a3bc4ba37cc50c096ea7e09b7.jpg

Soviet Union, 1950s, set made from communist coinage.

EgyptiansvsNubians.jpg.f7474ef861b0977371a0b4e0f27d167f.jpg

Set made from enameled pure silver, depicting Egyptians versus Nubians, 1970s. The kings are 5 in. tall.

Europeananimalset.jpg.8fcf3bb6691fab7a4592d5ccc96b245f.jpg

European carved wood set depicting different animals, 20th century.

 

 

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My Roman themed chess set. 

chess1.png.d0518a0626e3fd27c6ba5c420dd00d3a.pngchess2.png.9260080f5c4d430f91cba7913ac94bd3.png

The details on them,

chess.jpg.89ced0e0e33f268cd3b1184a636cdf63.jpg

They've replaced Bishops with Centurions, although I'd prefer a veiled Pontifex (I guess the emperors took that role as well). Also the emperor and the empress look much like Antoninus Pius and Faustina Sr.

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1 hour ago, JayAg47 said:

My Roman themed chess set. 

chess1.png.d0518a0626e3fd27c6ba5c420dd00d3a.pngchess2.png.9260080f5c4d430f91cba7913ac94bd3.png

The details on them,

chess.jpg.89ced0e0e33f268cd3b1184a636cdf63.jpg

They've replaced Bishops with Centurions, although I'd prefer a veiled Pontifex (I guess the emperors took that role as well). Also the emperor and the empress look much like Antoninus Pius and Faustina Sr.

Jay, That's a handsome looking set 😊. I especially like the capital columns for rooks & the battle ready legionnaires for pawns 😍. I don't have any antique or figural sets but I do have several sets in the traditional Staunton style.

image.jpeg.d9484af40e3352f5f33ab8c61fef620c.jpeg

 

 

 

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23 hours ago, JayAg47 said:

My Roman themed chess set. 

chess1.png.d0518a0626e3fd27c6ba5c420dd00d3a.pngchess2.png.9260080f5c4d430f91cba7913ac94bd3.png

The details on them,

chess.jpg.89ced0e0e33f268cd3b1184a636cdf63.jpg

They've replaced Bishops with Centurions, although I'd prefer a veiled Pontifex (I guess the emperors took that role as well). Also the emperor and the empress look much like Antoninus Pius and Faustina Sr.

That's neat! This Romans vs. Egyptians set looks cool -- and the empress REALLY looks like Faustina the Elder!

Capture.JPG.50d700758c722fbe308f3f5621f60a24.JPG
Romans Vs Egyptians Chess Set with Glass Board product image 1 of 7 slides

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