Chess Bazaar's New Soviet Set--A Pictorial Review

Mike, I used Elmer's wood glue. It's yellow, now white. I didn't clamp them. They stayed together just fine during blitz.

TY both.  CB should realize they have had a problem for at least a year with this, but constructive criticism seems to go on deaf ears. 

I'd like to follow up on a point Frank makes in his excellent review. I own a few vintage sets, but don't purport to be an expert in them by any stretch of the imagination. While some of the sets I've become acquainted with are tall and slim, just as many incorporate chunky or bulbous design elements. Here are two of my sets with such elements compared side-by-side with the new Chess Bazaar pieces. I don't think the bulbous design elements detract from their aesthetics--rather, they're an essential part of their esthetics. Now, I don't think you can just mix and match design elements. You end up with the proverbial elephant designed by a committee. All I'm saying is that Chess Bazaar was not incorporating a design element foreign to Soviet sets, but was borrowing one. To my eye, what they did works, even though they took liberties with the original design.

Thanks for the pics, cgrau. A side-by-side comparison speaks volumes.

Well...a a bit of History in Images:
Botvinnik Flohr Match
Young Petrosian
Young Botvinnik

I Have no secrets, I like to share.
I have no secrets to value my original sets.
I can not accept what is called the replica sets that are the "Rio Carnival" of the original. anything not replicas ,  but are another set! More or less beautiful, but no replica!

More...something important in soviet Soviet chess sets and their aesthetic is required: Respect the size and proportions of pieces according the set. This original set has as far as King 8.5 cm! Everything above this size is disproportionated and the  beauty , simplicity and "thinness" of the set left forever.
Some like  chessmen style "Empire State Bilding" or style "paperweights", but Jaques Club is one thing and this charming soviet chess is another. And something else and strange: soviets liked play in "horrible" chessboards with 4,5, 5cm square! The GM soviet Pieces, with is imposing Kinks, Rooks ans Pawns are like  prisoners in cells. This original set in this 5cm, 5,5 cm chessboard is great!

This litle, apollonian and charming set , didn't deserve a "beer belly", or somethink like "Madame Pompadour skirt"

"May I offer you this replica" ? No my friends, I pay you to stick with it!

And I'll be honest: who likes collecting Soviet chess pieces, expect perfect replica not of this model, but one that is on the cover of "Life and Games of Mikhail Tal" or the Set of the Bronstein-Botvinnik, Tal-Botvinnik WCC, or the unique Kasparov-Karpov  Moscow WCC. Okay...Tastes!

I do too, at least on my Eastern European sets.

Awesome, Arlindo! I take Paypal. I'll message you my email.

Seriously, thanks for the great comments.

I don't have the same problem you do with reproductions that are not exact copies unless the vendor claims a set to be one. For the various shortcomings of this set, Chess Bazaar never claimed that it is an exact duplication. It would be great if one of the vendors developed and marketed such a line of famous Soviet sets, or sets from the Soviet Championships. They have to be assured of a sufficient market. I think that efforts like Chess Bazaar's, even if short of your laudably high standards, both test and build that market. I applaud their efforts.

And there is another problem standing in the way of your goal of perfect duplication. Based on available data--a handful of photographs and a paucity of specimen sets--it may be impossible to make an exact duplicate because we have only imperfect knowledge of a set's pertinent characteristics. In those cases, we have no choice but to settle for approximations. Or photographs.

Perhaps the malocchio after your posting the Godfather image Chuck? 

Very nice chessmen and the spire top Kings are most appealing.

You can have your very own.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reproduced-Antique-Russian-Series-Stained-Chess-Set-in-Box-Wood-4-13-King-/272012068096?hash=item3f552ec500:g:mSwAAOSwl9BWGOx3

Cheaper to get it direct.

http://www.chessbazaar.com/reproduced-antique-russian-series-stained-chess-set-in-box-wood-4-13-king.html

They also don't know how a Queen looks like! Look at the marvelous detail on the left! And then the cheap copy on the right!! It's not even close to the beautiful original pink! All the nice detail of the hat is lost. This clearly proves they are criminals!

Now, I'm not a fan of ChessBazaar in the least. It's been quite a while since I've sent away for one of their offerings. But you're starting to look like a paid hit man.

You are absolutely right. The id: Stauntonmaster was created on 21 November 2017 and the sole motive of this gentleman appears to beat the shit out of chessbazaar. I have little doubts that this is either a paid hitman or a competitor.

So Slandermaster, who's paying you to post all that rubbish?

hahahahahaha hahahhahahahaaa !!!! Spot on ......

This review is really great I've been wondering if Chess Bazaar was any good so thanks.