Reproduction and Real Jaques of London Chess Set
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Carl, does the offer still stand if brexit tomorrow? 
Man, the real thing is pricey. Here is a Jaques on eBay that, with less than hour to go, the price has gone up from the opening bid of $389 to almost $1,500!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/361644389029?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
It's probably blasphemy to say this, but I personally like the look of the OS 1851 in terms of the shapes. The King's head looks kind of bulbous to me on the Jaques on eBay referenced above, as compared with the OS 1851. The patina sure is nice on the Jaques on eBay, though. Since I can't afford to blow $1,500 on a vintage set, I guess my lucky son will get the set with the nice patina on it from me someday... Which has me wondering: If I buy a brand new boxwood set today, can I hope that it will develop a nice patina like the vintage sets someday? Or is the beautiful patina of antique sets also partly due to the particular yellowing of whatever lacquer they used in the old days?
JonThePawn wrote:
Man, the real thing is pricey. Here is a Jaques on eBay that, with less than hour to go, the price has gone up from the opening bid of $389 to almost $1,500!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/361644389029?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Under 10 minutes to go. There's still time.
Jul 24, 2016
0
#1890
Allen did you take a long look at the black pieces vs the white pieces? Looks like a different set to me but my eyes are going. But it could be an illusion. The black bishops look more pointy on the top for one.
Jul 25, 2016
0
#1891
Pretty amazing condition I own the same set but mine requires a trip to Mr Dewey. The photos are a bit disappointing.
hard to tell from the pics but yes, could well be a hybrid set. Set looks to be from the early 1930s, and seems a little pricey for such a relatively late JoL. Then again, vintage JoL club-size sets don't come on the market all that often...
I don't know. . .could somebody be trying to pass off a repro as an original? You'd think boxwood of this vintage would have taken on a deeper patina than the pictures indicate.
Jul 25, 2016
0
#1894
Fact is the white and black pieces come from different sets. For that fact I would think that devalues the set. I also agree not hardly any patina to be found.
The description says "early to mid-twentieth century." I know nothing about antique chess sets, but I do have a whole lot of old wooden things around the house (furniture, etc., although none of it's made of boxwood or ebony!). I own just two wooden sets, one that is less than a year old, and the other is an old Lardy (maybe from the 40s or 50s?). On my new set the white pieces are very light, and the old Lardy's white pieces are a lovely honey color that is much darker. With the Jaques in question, the white pieces are somewhere between the two; not super light, but not that warm honey color, either. Maybe the set is from the 1960s or something? Interesting how good their condition is in, as if they had been sealed in an airtight time capsule or something.
Other than the color change that happens over the years, on the much older sets that I see in photographs I can see the deterioration of the lacquer, which lends its own kind of charm. Great strides have been made over the years in wood treatments. Could it be that a switch was made at some point from old school lacquer to a more modern polyurethane, and that sets that are relatively more recently produced will never quite get that nice 'ye olde' look?
Jul 29, 2016
0
#1896
another chess.com members special....
55% OFF our 1849 ebony chessmen
very limited qty.
add 1849 at checkout for discount to be applied
if i didnt have a Dubrovnik, I'd get one of these. maybe in ten years.
Aug 13, 2016
0
#1898
incase anyone missed this superb offer...here it is again
Grab yourselves another exclusive CHESS.COM Bargain-
Morphy ebonised/ boxwood set with a massive 55% OFF
Enter - MorphySale - at checkout to apply the discount
be quick while stocks last!!
https://www.officialstaunton.com/products/paul-morphy-ebonised-chessmen
Aug 20, 2016
0
#1899
ANOTHER WEEKEND SPECIAL FOR CHESS.COM MEMBERS ONLY!
A very limited quantity available !
1851 EBONY/ ANTIQUED - with £200 off!
type EBONY1851 at checkout
I just had to share this superb set with you all, totally delighted with the Antiqued Collectors series in mahogany casket....hope you guys like it too.