What's Your Favorite Chess Set?

Here is the set I would most like to own, that is if I had tens of thousands of dollars to burn.  According to the book used by collectors, namely The Illustrated Guide to World Chess Sets by Victor Keats, this is known as a Burmese set.  I didn't realize it until now, but a variation of this set was used to illustrate the cover. Below is the book's entry on these sets.

Best,
Bob

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Under the name Chit-tha-reen, a game has been played in Burma for a considerable period, but the pieces used had much in common with early Siamese.  Burma, which was a Province of British India, is on the east side of the Bay of Bengal extending from Manipur in the north to Siam in the south, and is bounded on the east by China, Annam and Siam; it's area is about 240,000 square miles with a population of over 30 million (in 1985 - RJR).

The Burmese are an Indo-Chinese race, highly intelligent, and, among the Hindu and Chinese immigrants, there are many trading and business classes.  The chief exports were rice, minerals, silk and ivory in its raw and carved state.  Skilled workers in ivory were among the immigrants and, being excellent businessmen, they built up a large trade with the West.  Among the items exported since the beginning of the nineteenth century were highly ornate chessmen with special emphasis on decorative playing pieces.  A type was developed, made and exported in such quantities that it soon became known as Traditional Burmese.  These were, in fact, made expressly for export.

By the second half of the nineteenth century the newly patented Staunton chess design (the set seen in Satyajit Ray's 1977 film, The Chess Players - RJR) was becoming popular and a decorative set with recognizable pieces was wanted.  Long before this, ivory sets resembling English designs but carved to intricate detail were brought to England, and although the country of origin was Burma, the style of carving clearly indicates that they are of Indo-Chinese workmanship.  The colours are nearly always natural and red, though a few are natural and green but the different colour does not enhance their worth.  The kings and queens are carved and pierced with interweaving patterns of foliage with birds and insects.  The towers representing rooks may have little houses, weeping willows and other trees or bamboos carved upon their surfaces with sometimes an additional small house on the top.  The knights, which are horses' heads, often stand on elaborately turned and carved bases.  The bishop has a mitre with intricate carvings surmounted by a cross.

These 'Burmese' pieces vary in size and quality of carving, but they are usually extremely good and some are quite excellent.    Because of this variation, it is impossible to judge the chess pieces simply by looking at a photograph, which can make an ordinary set look impressive and can equally belie the true worth of an exceptional set: there is no substitute for seeing and handling the pieces.

In the latter half of the nineteenth century roughly carved bone chessmen depicting foliage were made for everyday use.  Although these have been described as English, the carving is obviously Chinese.  These chessmen were sometimes sold complete with accompanying shakers, dice and draughts counters which could also be used for backgammon.

Auction house photo with the description: A 19th century ivory chess set, circa 1880, the Royal pieces carved in the manner of the British court of Queen Victoria, the knights with upright heads and the rooks as crenellated forts with flags flying, the pawns as columnar figures, the 'Black' pieces tinted red with cocheniel, together with a wooden box inscribed in graphite; 115 Mayfair Road / 1885

                  A still from Satyajit Ray's 1977 film, The Chess Players

Wow u guys spend serious cash on chess. .. i thought i was a big spender.. by having the ultimate plastic pieces and a chronos gx clock..

My chess pieces cost 20.00. It was a huge splurge.

That's okay, Chopin ... I mean, Noah ... spend your money on piano lessons and learn to play Nocturne Op. 9 nos. 1, 2 & 3, Waltz no. 7, Op. 64 no. 2, and "Fantasie" Impromptu, Op. 66 and I don't care if your set cost 2 cents.  Chopin may be the most talented among all the composers; he moves me deeply. 

Wood ;)

As a recent avid collector of chess sets, relying on my own tastes for expensive purchases, I'm really digging seeing what other people are pining for.  What a great post!  Here are a few of the sets I've recently grabbed, followed by a couple I'm considering, and then, finally, my two official entries for this post, the sets I REALLY REALLY want...

Here's the stock photo of my recent dubrovnik set, with the red ash burl board, which is stunning:

http://www.chessbazaar.com/combo-of-reproduction-1950-dubrovnik-bobby-fischer-chess-pieces-in-bud-rose-box-wood-red-ash-burl-maple-wooden-chess-board-3-62-king.html

Here's an inexpensive "tower" set of pieces on part of a chess table

Here's an reproduction of an antique russian design, I think, in rosewood, on a rosewood board that I think blend together well:

Here are two $$$ sets I'm (gasp) considering:

http://www.chessbaron.com/chess-X2042.htm

https://www.amazon.com/Vittoria-Artisan-Chess-Set-King/dp/B00R3FAKP0

Here is an image of some very appealing looking chess pieces floating around on pinterest.  Are they even real?

And finally, here are the two I'd kill for (LET ME KNOW IF YOU FIND ONE FOR ME):

(Irish "Killarney" set, made of Yew and Arbutus wood)

(Arthur Elliot "modern staunton" design)

Looking forward to any comments/feedback any of you might have!

Bob your board is fantastic !! Don't ever remove that patina.

Hello Mr. Leamy:

The links you provided to the two sets have knights that are too baroque for my taste, but the Irish "Killarney" set is lovely.  I can appreciate your attraction to it.

Best,
Bob

Thanks, Ron.  I'm not touching it.  It is too easy to botch the looks of an older board unless one knows woodworking and restoration.  Besides, it was my friend's work, and I want to keep it the way he finished it.

Best,
Bob