Post Your Favorite Knights (classic, stylized, or both)

Oftentimes it's the design and craftsmanship of the knight that sets the style and value of a chess set.

Expanding on a discussion about knights in another thread, I thought it would be interesting to create a gallery of your favorite knights, and why, if you're so inclined to share.

My first nominee in the classic category goes to this ivory Leuchars knight I saw for the first time today, and was appropriately smitten. It shows incredible attention to detail -- the teeth, the eyes, the flared nostrils, the delicate ears, and understated mane; plus, the overall smoothness of the carving. The indentations are subtle, unlike many wooden knights whose indentations look like they've been hacked out with a chisel, or zipped out in a hurry with a Dremel or other such powered tools. By contrast, this antique knight looks like it was loving carved by the expert hand of a master craftsman. A true classic!

Somebody should endeavor to recreate this in wood, or at least try.

For my stylized nominee, I offer the House of Chess Encore knight. This set is also available from other vendors under different monikers. I wanted to have at least one stylized knight in my collection and the Encore knight fit the bill. It was attractive (remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder), well crafted, and sold for a reasonable price when I bought it 3 years ago. Plus, it came with a nice storage box and free shipping! I was impressed with the piece-to-piece consistency of such complex carvings. I also like how the African padauk has darkened to rich burgundy hue over time.

Great forum Lou, here's Knights from my Cantonese ivory set. They look similar to the Leuchars "Cook" ivory Knights

These next few images are from the Arabian Knight design from Chessbazaar ; 4.2" high   

Don't think I've ever seen a knight with detailed teeth like that first one

I'm kinda' partial to this guy. Not to look a _ horse in the mouth, but this knight has some mighty fine teeth the way I see it.

Not my set - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oleg-Raikis-Staunton-chess-set-rare-pieces-large-woolly-mammoth-fossil-/201921003681?hash=item2f036e00a1:g:v3sAAOSw32lYrhY4

Rich, can you include the sources for those beautiful knights by editing your original posts. Thanks.

GNM,

I've always loved your "Green Cantonese," a most unique knight. Never seen one quite like it!

Luke, gorgeous knight. But you would expect no less from a $25,000 chess set.

Which reminds me, a couple of weeks ago I attended a high-end audio expo in Chicago where I listened to some super expensive systems. One of which included a pair of $295,000 loudspeakers! When a friend asked me how they sounded, I told them they were "world class." "Really?," he replied. I told him if you can't make a pair of world class speakers for $300,000 then you better take up knitting.

I'm not from the UK, but I gotta go with Sir Paul McCartney.

Or, keepin' it soulful --

Cool

As for the English knights, I am probably more of a Jagger guy. That being said, I would need to hear them both on a set of world class speakers to definitively decide...

Getting back to horsing around, here is a specimen from a 31.95 dollar set -

I've never been much of a fan of the deep facial gouges found in so many wooden sets. Sometimes I wonder if any of the quality Indian carvers have actually seen one of these -

For me it is the vintage Chavet knights all the way. The downward swept jawline and just the lines over all. 

In the world of plastic knights, I find the ACE Cavalier knight a handsome steed.

loubalch,

This thread was a great idea!