Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set

I wonder about the manufacture of chess sets being a booming business; I would have thought it was a dying business. More and more people play online or on a tablet and production seems limited to low-wage economies only. Twenty years ago in my small city there was a games shop and a department shop that both had a range of wooden sets and you could buy locally made boards and boxes of native woods. Now, the games shop doesn't have any wooden sets, the department shop has one, and no one local is making boards and boxes any more.

I also don't think we should get all misty eyed over some mythical time when all sets were perfect. I've seen pictures of a Jaques set with noticeable brown streaks in the ebony and Professor Sir Alan Fersht and others have numerous images showing how Jaques pieces and pawns could vary in size and carving within a single set. As well, the knights quite quickly became simplified: the first few years' versions were the best, in my opinion, and some I find quite unattractive (the 1850—51 "Morphy" knights, for example, though I might like them more in person).

Weighted Jaques sets also cracked just like modern sets and I'm sure some pieces suffered the odd ding in transit from being piled into those mahogany boxes.

Robb, best of luck trying to find an "old minty original Jaques". I've seen some in pretty good condition for sale, but they've been twentieth-century sets and they may still have been restored. A minty 1849 or 1850 club size set in boxwood and ebony would be just about impossible to find. There was supposedly one for sale earlier this year, but a couple of things didn't look quite right about it to me, though maybe I'm just too suspicious. Most of the Jaques sets you see on Ebay will have one or more of the following: cracked bases, damage to pieces (tips of ears, pawn collars, queen's coronet, etc), worn baizes, and missing or substituted pieces. You also will find pieces that are bent or whose bases are no longer circular. However, going the antique route does have definite advantages — you get sets with history and with lasting value and, if you get a damaged set fixed up, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you restored that set to fighting fitness. (And you've saving a little of the planet's resources too.) 

Andy... Just to clarify... When I used the term minty I should have explained a bit further. There are minty new sets in that they are new and expected to be in new condition when received. Then there is minty old sets which one might expect to have some battle scares, but still be in decent playable condition or that have been professionally restored. You certainly are correct in trying to locate that elusive Jaques somewhere in hiding and I don't think anyone will likely find one on FLEA BAY or CRAPSLIST. Very elusive and rare find yes... Impossible no... More likely it depends on how deep ya wanna go into your pocket and who is willing to open their safe up for the right price...

Hi Guys,

Quality control is a very important part of selling chess sets and although my input is limited once these 1849 copies go into production I would like to hear about problems and what response you get from Vik. I expect it will be curteous and helpful, he is a very nice guy, (we met in Portobello Road) that is why I have chosen to work with him.

The colour of ebony does vary a bit and Jaques used to blacken up their sets with a solution of black shellac (I think, and Prof Fersht concurrs with that)

In response to Andy, who says " A minty 1849 or 1850 club size set in  and ebony would be just about impossible to find."

This is true, as is what he says about old sets. However I have ATM a first year production 4'4 in my hands which had only one knight ear knicked and a portion of the wKX missing. as near 'minty' as I have ever seen. I checked the whole set very carefully it is genuine including the reg stickers under the bases with the '5' the wrong way round (second batch stickers). The box has a LEUCHARS retail sticker over the Jaques on the label.

The owner paid a kings ransom for it.

Thanks for the great responses Alan and the straight up answers. I was just talking to someone yesterday about what I refer to as a new term I coined "ebonized genuine ebony". Nothing wrong IMHO of adding a bit of black to real ebony pieces and I think we all know you have injected your best when it comes to this new set. I'm sure Vic will do his best as well in resolving any issues that might come up from consumers if any. There is no such thing as perfect gentleman especially when it comes down to handmade items from materials that vary. Looking forward to the new set :)

Edit Added:

One last thing gentleman... At one time or another we have all received a new set that maybe had a piece that was damaged or just was not right. Give your seller a chance as well... Contact them about it and maybe send them a picture of the bad piece and give them the opportunity to replace the item. In my experience, most if not all have been very accommodating in that regard. Sure, they want you to send the piece back to them some of the time, but it's only usually to insure you get back a good match. Might you incur a few possible shipping charges... Maybe... But, to the end justifies the means.

Hi Alan

Thank You for your insight.I've received an e-mail from chess Bazzaar saying the 1849 J.Jaques pattern Staunton Chessmen are comming soon.Will this set be one that you have had input in it's manufacture.

Thank You

Hi Boby,

Yes. As I get good early sets in the workshop I ask the owner if I can make one of each piece as samples to be copied.usually the owner says yes.

I then send them on to Vik to copy into complete sets with very detailed and accurate drawings of the pieces.

There were a number of minor changes in the first year of production, particulally in the knights but also to some extent in the bishops and to a lesser degree the rooks. I am interested in putting good repros out there for players to enjoy.

To be honest, although I have been offered a cut of the retail I am more interested in having sets of this caliber myself to use than hoping to make a killing.

I do have some older repro sets on sale on my website (chessspy.com) and the Simpsons in the Strand set which is priced at cost is one of the very first of these made. I do not know if these repros will become valued beyond what they now cost, but going by how people talk of the HOS Indian made and in my opinion vastly overpriced sets they well might. So keeping all documentation with the set is important.

There's been a lot of build-up in anticipation of these new chessbazaar repro sets. I sincerely hope they live up to everyone's lofty expectations. I have yet to see a repro set that doesn't disappoint - Indian carvers seem to really have a difficult time getting the knight proportions right.

I also hope they will be offered in regular boxwood rather than the artificially "antiqued" kind. 

Something else chessbazaar might want to consider is offering these repros in bone, w/ correct cochineal red staining. Now that it's almost impossible to move ivory across international borders, there could be some demand for a decent bone set.

Here are some pics from a HOS ebay listing I got this year. Are they an exact reproduction? Nope. Do I like them ? Yep I paid a decent price IMO. I will be interested in chess bazzaar's price point on the new set.

Bronco-Very Nice !

I agree, I would be very content to play with pieces of that quality.

ps-actually like those knights a lot...especially that stought look along the jaw line areas and more open drop kinda mouth... very Jaqueee in some ways. 

Bronco.. That Magnificent set is good to go even to the World Championship. I love those cook rooks.!

Thanks gang!

I must say this is one of my favorite threads. A lot of interesting thoughts and insight being shared here :)

hi guys

looking at getting this set. thoughts? do you think the knight belongs in this set?

thanks

josh

I dont believe that knight belongs with that set . Its smaller than the pawn !  

I'm not sure if it's just a joke from our friends down under but, if y'all ignore the knight and blow up that pic... Check it out... A Jaques with battle scares and some baseline cracks. Also it looks like someone tried to fix that king at the base as well.

several things look wrong with this set:

The King's cross is clearly wrong. Also, the knight's head is from an Ayres set.

That looks really nice, Bronco. I was trying to talk myself into the Cooke set but my heart led me another direction. It looks like I wouldn't have been disappointed with the Cooke, though.

According to CB, the 4.4" 1849 set will be released next week.  The 3.6" version will be next, but may take some time.