Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set

Lou, I really like the antiqued boxwood finish. If we just forget about it trying to look vintage/old and just look at it as finish itself , then I have to say its really nice and looks great contrasting the ebony pieces... a beautiful sight!! This "hangup" that it doesn't look antique doesn't really matter if you like the finish iteself and not what it's supposed to represent.

Was nothing wrong with a few brown streaks going through my ebony pieces 25 years ago and would be nothing wrong today either especially at a 3K discount!!!!!!!!!!

As far as the antiqued boxwood pieces are concerned, I remember drooling over sets in the 1960's that came that color with no mention of antiqued. I liked them then and I still do now...but I don't look at them as trying to pass them off as antique. That's my $0.02 on this subject.

Given that the original, antique Jaques sets used Macassar ebony that was darkened to jet black by use of a shellac finish, I would be suprised if they now found the need to try to locate all black ebony.

Yeah, I've never got the "make it look antique" bit myself. I can see the point if you're replacing a missing piece from an old set, but otherwise I don't understand why anyone would want to pretend that a new set was old. So I've always looked on "antique finishes" as just a coloured boxwood option, but it hasn't made me like them any better. I'll take natural boxwood over an orangish or yellowish finish any day.

I agree, if you don't like them...don't buy them.

Just coming in here to say that I haven't abandoned this thread, it's just that I've been taking sort of a break from Chess for the last little bit.  I've been enjoying Backgammon again.  But I'm about ready to jump back into the thick of it!  Mostly waiting on this 1849 set from Chess Bazaar. 

Welcome back Jack. What's your opinion of the antique boxwood finish that's  seen on many of the replica Jaques sets? BTW, the CB 1849 set will have an anitque boxwood finish.

I've never seen one of these in the flesh but in the pictures they look gorgeous.

And may the 1849 set from CB be everything we are expecting it to be with Alan at  the helm. But remember he was the engineer and advisor not the maker and not the quality control guy. For that we have to depend solely on CB. We shall find out soon won't we. 

I, for one, am starting to doubt the existence of this 1849 repro. CB have been saying it will be out in a week or two for ages now. All we've had as proof of its existence was a jumpy video of a game being played with it, and even that turned out to have been of the original repro set, not the supposedly more accurate redesign. This set is the sasquatch of chess sets!

I am not sure if this is true or not.  It depends on if this is even truly a "finish" in the strictest sense.

If the wood has been aged with nitric acid it should at least go a few millimeters into surface of the wood.  Handling and rubbing would be no issue.

Personally I like it, and I'll be buying one with it. 

@andy777

"but otherwise I don't understand why anyone would want to pretend that a new set was old."

I'm one of those people, and to me I have as much of a fascination with playing with old pieces in 2014 as I do with pretending I am in 1849 playing with the pieces when they were brand new.  It was a difficult decision for me, so I just went with the ones I felt were most visually appealing irrespective of the historical reasoning. 

Jack, I was referring specifically to my antiqued Nottingham set, which is the only antiqued set I own.

I don't have any problem with people playing with old pieces and, though it's not for me, I'm not worried if people want to pretend to be in 1849 playing with a new-looking 1849 design. I also don't care if people just like the colour of antiqued sets. But what I don't understand is why someone would want a set that wasn't old but wanted it to look like it was old.

Hi All,

Vik tells me the fabled 1849 repro is ready to hit the streets.

We are finalising one of two details about presentation so it wont be lond now.

Also a collector in Brazil has identified the set used in the Botvinik-Flor match (1932?) he has one and is sending it for restoration. more on that later.

The 3.5" very early set samples have gone missing enroute to India so I have no idea when if ever that will be resolved.

Alan - the Botvinnik - Flor match was '33, I think. Very interesting, though - I presume it's a Soviet style set?

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1018108

Looking forward to the 1849. So sorry your 3 1/2" samples are missing. 

Yes Soviet style with contrasting tops. Kings Queens and bishops Very good knights.

I'll find pics Henry.

33 thanks Frank.

Alan, what carrier did you ship the 3.5 set by?  I've had all my orders from ChessBazaar sent successfully to me ny FedEx Express.

Can you post pictures of the 1932 set used in the Flor-Botvinnik match when it arrives?

That's crushing news that some of the 3.5" set is missing now.  I'm still working on my follow-up post about the options out there for that size and the others.