Post a picture of your favourite chess set (pieces and board)

I played in a tournament against a fellow who had this set.  It was surprisingly functional, on top of being very aesthetically pleasing.  It was the first time I had seen on in person, and I don't feel like the pictures do it justice.

Decorative only:

Playable set that I own:

Both are the Zagreb 59 set.  My favorite.  The first one is the burnt style, with decorative markings.  Very distracting to play with, but I think it's beautiful to look at.

Milliern #2
I played in a tournament against a fellow who had this set. It was surprisingly functional, on top of being very aesthetically pleasing. It was the first time I had seen on in person, and I don't feel like the pictures do it justice.

Functionality and aesthetically are exactly the words describing this set. The availability is for me also a major reason why I love this set so much: I can easily replace the set if it's  damaged. Thx 4 your comment.

OMGChess14 #5

Thx 4 your comment. I like both sets you posted.

"... it's beautiful to look at." is also one of the reasons I like this forum so much.  Do some standards exists about taking pictures of chess sets (most pictures are taken from the same angle)?

I don't own this (or want to), but this is the most memorable set ever to tickle my fancy. ;-)

Too bad they don't show even show the board. For some reason the pic shows up as broken, so I'm afraid you'll have to check the link.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/10/taxidermied-mice-chess-set_n_4419838.html 

I also have the Zagreb '59, in Rosewood and Boxwood.

I actually find it to be a very playable set, not distracting at all.  I've played roughly half of my OTB games of the last 10 years with the Zagreb set... all of my opponents have liked it and none of them have complained about it being too decorative or distracting.  I personally find the "ball and spike" king finials to be badass beyond all description... definitely the coolest decorative feature on any of my chess sets!

The Zagreb '59 is not my favorite nice wood set (that would probably be a "tie" between my  CB "Blackburne" in Bud Rosewood and my CB "Apache" in Ebony), but it is the wood set I use the most.  Why?  Easy... it is a rugged, good looking set that I can replace at the drop of a hat if a piece is broken or lost.  I highly recommend it as a general use OTB set when you want something a little nicer than the plastic to battle with!

I just barely (3 days ago) bought the 2.875" Zagreb '59 set in Blood Rosewood for use as my main analysis set... my old plastic pieces just don't do it for me any more!  I'll let you all know how I like them when they (and the new borderless solid-block 14" board for them) arrive.

Oh definitely.  I only think the burnt version in the first picture is too decorative.  The normal Zagreb is very normal and easy to play with.  I have had others say they don't like that it has opposite colored finials, but I think they are just resistant to the idea and would actually like it after playing with it a few times.  I don't tell them that, though.  The Zagreb is far and away my favorite chess set.

The set in post #1 looks to be a typical german knight set.  I have one of those and love it, too.  Here is mine:

NOJ 4" Red Dubrovnik II.

And in the making...

@cgrau That is one beautiful set and the fact that you made it is incredible. 

I've been looking for a nice wood set and have considered a couple. The Grande Set at The Chess Store currently has my eye. It's hard finding a retail set in which I like all of the pieces. I'm very particular about the Knight, but there are Bishops and Queens that are stoppers for me as well.

I see those German sets, but the Knights are a bit over simplified for my taste.

Heh, the show-stopper for me is usually the rooks.  I hate those short tops on the rooks.  I like them to be taller on the top section than most sets.

For instance, this just drives me nuts:

I strongly prefer this type of top to the rooks:

reckless,

I have that "Grande" set, in Rosewood/Boxwood.  I really like it!

It's definitely my most "traditional Staunton" style set.  I particularly love the Bishop styling, definitely the best looking bishops of all my wood sets!  Buy that set, you'll like it.

OMGChess14,

I'm with you on the rooks.  However, I personally like the "flared" or "angled" battlement designs the best, way more than I like the straight vertical battlement designs.  Example:

#14
"Heh, the show-stopper for me is usually the rooks. I hate those short tops on the rooks. I like them to be taller on the top section than most sets."

:-) strange ... for me it's just the way around. I find the rooks that are taller on top more fragile. I had such a set but after a wile the rooks became damaged. I even like particularly the rooks from a Bohemian set:

even the rooks 

Reckless, thanks, but I didn't carve and turn that set. Gregor Novak of NOJ Slovenia did. Just superb craftsmanship.

#16 actually that set in your picture is decent.  They don't have to be protrustions.  It can be mostly solid up there and not bother me.  I just don't want that whole structure to be pancake thickness.

ok I understand and agree. Thx 4 your comment

My favorite (that I own ) is my Drueke # 38 vintage set with 5" Kings. Here it is on my 2.75" squares board. And a pic of the King with one from the smaller #36 set.