Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set

Hi Mike,

No I do not think I ever heard of them named as such.

I dinly recall hearing of a chap who cast some Staunton sets but no details. That may be it.

The history of the Staunton pattern chess set design and it's copies and copiers is long and interesting.

My wife, historian Milissa Ellison and I discovered the origin of the pieces shapes here:-

http://www.chessspy.com/articles/Icons%20and%20Staunton.pdf

I guess it is too late to call the pattern after Charles Stopford Kenny (Kenny set anyone?)

Bertram and Bill Jones were making staunton sets in ivory from about 1940 Bertram first and then Bill to whom he passed his piece patterns later in his life probably around 1960. Both were making set to be sold by Alex Hammond and Mackett-Beeson two shady chess set dealers in London. Some were even attractively boxed and sold through Macy's here in the states. although their resembalance to Jaques sets was only passing at best.

Thanks Alan.  I remember talking with Frank Camaratta back in the late 90's and him telling me that he started The House of Staunton because there were no good quality chess sets being produced.  He began and operated for a number of years with the Collector Series being his top priced set, and it was designed to be played with.  I recall that over a 3 or 4 year period Frank came out with 5 or 6 sets in total that were all affordable and very nice for playing.

From what I have seen of Chess Bazaar with your design and now Carl, it looks as if you fellows certainly are currently adding to the affordable, playable sets available.

When saying I believe Knights could also be duplicated due to the new 3D technologies, I should have said the Knights would be carved by hand.

I think the 3D technology could be used to create identical shaped patterns and templates for the carvers.

I spoke with a lawyer friend about the Fischer-Spassky set mess. He suggested that there might be legal concerns relating to the present owners of the historical F-S set.

Perhaps HoS and JoL made their reproductions somewhat different in order to avoid lawsuits.

This is not my area of expertise. But I did have that thought when comparing the more recent Paladin set with the old Drueke set. The Paladin was close to a straight copy except the queen had about twice as many crown points.

Unique Staunton Chess Sets were offered on Ebay around 2007.  The seller's first name was Elliott, but his last name eludes me for now. Elliott purchased exotic woods from all over the world and had them shipped to India where sets were made to his specifications. Unique Staunton sets were made in very low numbers, usually from 2 to 5 sets for each exotic wood. The base of both King's is stamped "Unique Staunton". The 4 Rooks were stamped with a crown. I did  purchase a gorgeous 4" Boxwood and Cocobolo Set from Unique Staunton Chess Sets. I have included some pics. I believe Unique Staunton Sets had some legal issues with House of Staunton over piece design.

That sounds like a good possibility. It might be interesting to find out if anyone has patents on particular designs.

For myself, my fussiness increases as the price of the set goes up. Lower priced sets only need to conform to the basic Staunton concept. Medium priced sets, like I consider the HOS Marshall, need to bear a resemblance to the sets they commemorate. The knights don't need to be exact but they should have the same general shapes and expressions. As the price goes even higher the knights should be more exact. I think reproductions should be as accurate as the carvers can make them. That almost certainly raises the price considerably.

Comparing the pictures of my HOS Marshall sets to Frank's original Marshall knights shows some differences that exist in many modern knights. From the pictures I've seen of original Jaques knights, almost none of them have sharp edges or points. I know they've probably seen considerable use but I doubt it was enough to round off edges and points. Many modern knights are all sharp edges and points. Sometimes it's so severe they look like skulls with goatees. I don't care for that at all.

GNM that's a very nice set and you may have one of the only copies of it. 

Thanks Mike, I'm glad you like the set. Like the Collector Rosewood pieces  in another post, my pictures just don't due justice to the beautiful Cocobolo pieces

Yes Cocobolo I liked the moment I ever saw the wood.  Surly a uber premium wood.

Hi Ron,

Thanks for those comments, they are much appreciated.

unfortunately the scanning tech is just not up to scratch even to produce prototypes. Give it 10 years and we might be approaching a plug and play technology for making small carvings.

Hi Luftwaffles,

Well all I can say is that I looked into it carefully and has some scans done. they were simply not accurate enough particulally under the jaw and on the mane detail. This was done using a very expensive machine of medical quality.

I had the luck of buying a superb cocobolo alto recorder cheap in my hippie days.

Of course you can't leave something like that sitting around for forty years without problems. It would need some serious service to be playable again. I wonder what that would run.

Talk to my wife milissa ellison AKA Flootsie. She is on my website chessspy.com

Unique Staunton was probably the source of the chess sets I've seen on Ebay from time to time where all knights and rooks are stamped with kingside crowns. I guess they figured if stamping one knight and rook per side was good, stamping both was better!

All is possible Mike, however Im not so sure you will still want the cooke in 4 inch once you se our new 1851 reproduction!! which I will post very soon! 

Carl, your company is becoming the benchmark that chess collectors will be using to compare sets.  Can't wait for the 1851. The rosewood collector set was just over the top. I hope you can keep up the high quality and hold the prices down. I know, the impossible when you have to turn a profit, pay employees, and eat.  A COA would be a very nice touch and surly the boxes with the 1849 set are a super nice touch being made out of solid mahogany and having your companies seal as well.  

Thanks Carl, we all wait with great anticipation!

Hi Guys!! 

they are here! Our 1851 Reproduction Boxwood/Ebonised , which looks very much like ebony! King weights in at 124gms, Queen 109gms, rook 97gms, knight 82gms, bishop 74gms, pawn50gms..

kings base diameter just under 2.00 inch ....here some images....