Names of different knight types/designs

I was reading various articles on sovietchesssets.com, and came across different names for specific knight designs seen in Soviet sets. The ones mentioned were:

• Gulag knight (Mordovian chess pieces)
• Ferocious knight (Ferocious Knight chess pieces by Artel Kultsport)
• Penguin knight (Smyslov chessmen; probably also Botvinnik Flohr-II if I’m recognizing it properly?)
• Elgin Marble knight (1930s Soviet Staunton chess set; Jaques chess sets)

Two other knight types I have come across are:

• German knight (Didatto set (first to feature such a knight); DGT Timeless chess pieces; Wegiel chess sets also seem to feature this knight type)
• French knight (Lardy chess pieces)

So now I’m curious, what other names are there for distinct knight types? I know that most modern Staunton sets have unique knights, but I’m talking about particular knight archetypes that are seen in various sets—usually historical ones.

And do the more minimalist Bundesform knights have a particular name? The ones with the downward-facing heads. And what about the knights with downward-facing heads in Soviet sets? I’m thinking of the Dubrovnik sets, as well as the 1970s Dubrovnik-based Zagreb set (although as far as I know, this knight design is a ’90s addition).

And finally, do the knights of the Chavet set have a distinct name? I’ve seen some people make a comparison with the knights of the Didatto sets, which also inspired the “German knight”, but that archetype clearly deviates from what became the Chavet knight.

:tup

I just found three more knights on SovietChessSets.com, in the article ‘1935 Moscow International Chessmen with “Menchick Knights”’:

• Capablanca knight (Botvinnik-Flohr II; knight with bear-like face and upright ears)
• Menchick knight (Botvinnik-Flohr II; knight with longer snout and ears following the curve of its back)
• Novgorod/Baku knight (Botvinnik-Flohr II; knight with upward-facing head, upright ears, and tongue sticking out)

House of Staunton also has a set called ‘Circa 1961 Baku Series chess pieces’ which features the Novgorod knight, although this one lacks the tongue, and its head is a bit more forward facing.

I just had a look at different Botvinnik-Flohr II sets I collected images of, and I noticed that although the Capablanca and Menchick knights are both from 1935, the Menchick knight is still present in the BF-II set 3 design (from 1938), while the Capablanca knight is the archetype of most BF-II reproductions. I don’t know if it makes sense to attribute this knight to BF-II set 2 though, since both knights were seen in the 1935 tournament.

Below a reproduction of BF-II set 2 with the Capablanca knight:

And here is an authentic BF-II set 3 with the Menchick knight:

And for reference, here is an authentic Novgorod knight:

Does anyone know what the Varna Olympiad knight is commonly called? I saw Chuck Grau refer to it as a Marshall-style knight, and I can certainly see some resemblance. But I can’t help but think of a boar when I see the Varna knight.

I don't know about the Varna knight, but to me it does not look a lot like a Marshall knight under the Camaratta Codex. The Marshall knight has a much slimmer head. I am not sure if the Varna knight is to be associated with any Jaques knight type at all. If at all, it would probably compare best to a Broadbent or Lessing. The "Craftsman" set made by Golden Castle Ltd. in Japan in the 1950s/60s is said to have been modelled after the "Marshall knight".

Just for comparison, here are the Jaques types again.

True, the likeness to Marshall or Jaques more generally isn’t great—especially not compared to the Morphy and Anderssen we often see. But the position of the head and the hairstyle does make me think Jaques was referenced.

Based on the reference picture you posted, I actually think the Varna knights show a fair resemblance to Tarrasch. It has the thick neck, the backward-facing ears (which most of the Jaques knights have), a slightly upward head position, and mohawk-like manes (as all Jaques knights do). With more exaggerated manes and a blockier snout, I think it starts looking pretty Varna. I think the Varna knights also have that crude cheek carving as seen in quite a few of the Jaques knights—especially Morphy and Lasker.

I like this topic and discussed it briefly in this thread: https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/german-knight-origin

My favorite is the Dragon knight from the Bohemian style chess sets.

Thanks for reading my stuff!

I'd go so far as to say the entire Golden Castle set is modeled after the "Marshall" Jaques., and elsewhere have posted originals of both side-by-side. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/yafQ7V44rqaGGZXC/

I elsewhere have observed that the Varna set appears to be a take on the 1939 Olimipco made by Magistral, and that the Magistral knight seems inspired by the "Marshall" knight. The original Varna pieces were even constructed as separate parts to be screwed together, just as the Magistals were.

When assessing the Varna knight, it helps to recall that any Jaques influence is attenuated as "a copy of a copy," and as the work of the finest Stalinist Brutalist designers Communist Bulgaria could muster. That knight is not an indigenous Bulgarian design.

And while I'm here, the 1966 Havana Olimpico also seems inspired by the "Marshall" set. I recall Frank Camaratta making a similar observation regarding the Havana set.

Oh thank you for writing so many fascinating and informative articles! You got me to dive deep into Soviet chess sets and the hobby of collecting chess sets (and collecting information about them).

Thank you so much for the extra information! Do you happen to know which of the two Havana Olimpico reproductions below is more accurate?

House of Staunton

Staunton Castle

@cgrau

Have spent quite a few hours reading your posts about pieces, clocks and boards.

Really respect the time, and research, you spend before you post.

Interesting! Which of the two resembles the set used in the 17th Olympiad more? And do you have any idea why both companies might have reproduced a derivative instead of the original set?

I wish they would offer information on exactly which set they reproduced. I find the background information fascinating. But I’m glad that you were able to provide it!

T-Rex Knight