Hi, Guy (and all).
First, thanks for the compliments (looking at just the positive for the moment!) ;-)
I think I must keep close watch on those high quality toothpicks (used as ivory trunks) on those elephants in the pictured set. Some folks might be tempted to use them in keeping their eyes open when trudging through the many (too many, overdone, and overwhelming?) messages posted by too many cats and rats on these ebay threads?
But to answer you question, I do not know where D Wolf is. Maybe he is just busy with life and other things. I saw him a little while ago on one or more of these threads (in relation to the new Baron's nice plastic sets?) Maybe he is busy with some more interesting postings in some other groups? I really don't know... just all speculation on my part. But I thought that the posting of the animal chess set (on which I had thought he had bid on a couple / few years ago) might pull him back into discussion here. But maybe not. I don't know. I hope he is ok...
To answer your other questions about the height of the king, providence, country of origin, etc... that will have to wait (maybe for a really long time). The king's height would not be much work or "serious research" ;-)... all I'd have to do is to go upstairs and measure it.
As for for other questions you asked, and "off (with? ;-)) the top of my head"...
1.) The stability of the chess pieces is pretty good.
2.) The purchase price, as I recall, was less than $200, but I think it was worth it, as it is a nicer set than some other carved wooden animal sets I have seen. It is certainly, "in my humble opinion" a better overall set than the mass-produced composite material animal theme sets that crowd Internet chess set websites and even ebay (but I still would not mind one of those composite material animal sets for my birthday...)
3.) Availability: think it is fairly rare, as I have not seen another like this - ever! I have seen similar ones, but not of this specific design, etc.
4.) No box came with the set, but as I recall, a relatively nice carved (animal featured) wooden board came with it. yes. I still have that too, but no pictures (yet.)
As for the other aspects, (providence, actual country of origin, etc.,) I really don't know.
Ya know, Guy... not all folks are as interested (not only in these mini "discussions" we have on these threads...) but also in each and every minutia about the sets they see or even have. Not everybody is a (so-called) "serious collector". (But listen, while I - hopefully - still have your attention, and to save some time posting on other threads, I do sincerely do appreciate the time you spent on the phone with the museum, etc.)
I myself do what I can, given my time constraints, what interests me (and even at times trying to accommodate the wishes/needs/ questions of others - while placing a limit in what I am willing to do...). It's not "all them" and it's not "all me" (though, one could not necessarily tell my the numerous postings I make and despite my longwinded postings...). Sometimes I get on a roll and sometimes I get pretty tired... (Sound, maybe familiar?)
And maybe, with that, it is time for me to take a little retreat here... as it seems like there are an awful lot of cats and rats and mice running around like chickens without heads... looking for alligators, elephant ivory, and maybe even some chess sets...!
John, VT.
Yes, that had been a set up for bid a few years ago!
Do you like the toothpick touch?
Hardwood. Somewhat modernistic in its appearance, eh? County of Origin? Africa? I do not recall...
Would be an interesting game to play in dim light, eh?
John. Vermont.
Yes, that had been a set up for bid a few years ago!
Do you like the toothpick touch?
Hardwood. Somewhat modernistic in its appearance, eh? County of Origin? Africa? I do not recall...
Would be an interesting game to play in dim light, eh?
John. Vermont.
