Muslim Sets

[221baker]

Are there any collectors of Muslim sets on this forum? I added a story on the "amusing tales" discussion of an old set I came across years ago. I have one new set, made by Chopra, which is a larger interpretation of the antique set. If you ever saw it on the chesspiece.com site that was my description. Speaking of chesspiece.com, the Regence set they offer was originally carved for me, but I didn't accept delivery when I looked at the knights. Out of the four pieces there were three distinctly different heads. The quality control soured me on Chopra. Has anyone had similar experiences? Dick

[ne0romantic]

Rick, I don't think 260077761030 is anything more than a 20th century replica. A set which looked exactly the same to me was on sale a while back from MS Craft Emporium eBay store http://stores.ebay.com/M-S-CRAFT-EMPORIUM_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm for something close to $100 and got no bids. I also saw a Mulsim replica I liked a lot more go by for something like $250 and I was tempted. Maybe I'll be talking to 123ahuja about it after I'm done with the buying I plan to do in March and repairs on my Selenus set, which may be a while. Anyway if you want a set in this design, I'm sure 123ahuja could hook you up for much a much better price than bkschess. I don't see a difference in quality from the provided pictures. Anyone here disagree?

[itmustsell]

I feel it is appropriate to reply to Rick Knowlton's comment of Jan 2, 2007 04:26 PM albeit it is now many years later that we have been made aware of this post. Firstly, a set was sold to this individual in 2004 but we are not aware of any return being made. In fact we sold 15 sets in the period between then and now with only one being returned because the paint appeared crude in its finishing. We originally had conversations with Aditya at Chopra our supplier in 2001, when we first launched it and he confirmed that much of the attempted authenticity is derived from trying to age the original. In a sense, this is similar to distressing furniture to make it look 'old'. 

I do however have to state that I find it offensive when I see that someone makes a public remark which potentially implies ignorance on our part, especially when they are a dealer and potentially could be construed by some as trying to promote their own cause at our expense. The linked sentences in the earlier comment: "I understand that these are made in India. Very nice guy there at TheChessPiece, Steve, right? I lucked out and got a reproduction of an ancient Islamic (or ancient European) set about 3 years ago. The seller had no idea what it was, had it listed as "really weird chess set," which helped cut down on competitive bids".

We have never sold anything else to this dealer and he did not inform us that he was going to post such an adverse commentary at this collectors' group; any suggestion that implies we did sell this is false.

In relation to earlier comments in the thread, we go out of our way to ensure that all our customers are happy, to the extent we are one of the very few chess piece vendors that will customize a set to a customer's preference and in some cases being left with a return after investing in that commitment. It ends up being our loss but we are committed to this business and very few result in returns. That risk of course is business and fairness is the rule of the game; be fair with your customers and then they will generally be fair with you. Should we charge a hefty upfront non-returnable fee for customization? If we did we effectively restrict the art in chess so we bear the brunt of it in those rare situations of total loss.

That said, we are in business and have been for 12 years+ and we believe we hold the largest collection of bone sets available for sale in the US. We welcome discerning customers and professional competitors and continue to deliver in the best way we can as we have in the past. I know there are several chess collectors in this group who know us well, and have enjoyed our direct commitment and involvement in chess collectors' organized events as well as our sponsorship of US National events.

-- Edited by thechesspiece at 10/27/2011 9:03 PM PDT

-- Edited by thechesspiece at 10/27/2011 9:11 PM PDT

[rickofricks]

Wow, that was a stab from the past. Many years ago, when I was just beginning to first collect and then sell chess.

I am reminded of two things by the recent post from thechesspiece. 1) whatever you say on the internet essentially 'lasts forever', and 2) whatever you say in quick comments is likely to be misconstrued and found offensive.

My response:

1) I did buy a Muslim set from thechesspiece, I did correspond with Steve, he is very nice guy, the set was replaced, the replacement also had inconsistencies in painting, and I now know that it's FINE LIKE THAT, perfectly consistent with the style of the set.

2) That little transaction had NOTHING TO DO with the OTHER "weird little chess set" that I got on eBay from some other seller who knew nothing about it. My sincere apologies for mentioning it ANYWHERE NEAR comments about the thechesspiece set.

3) TheChessPiece is an EXCELLENT source of every sort of chess set and I highly recommend that all chess lovers peruse their items regularly. You'll find high quality sets there at excellent prices which you won't find anywhere else.

4) Please contact me directly, by email or through my web site if you want to talk about who said what about whom and all that.

My best to all chess lovers, and special appreciation this week to TheChessPiece.com!

[knight_knight_zzz]

Rickofricks and TheChessPiece:

I realize that my following comments are not about "Muslim sets" in particular, but they do have to do with ebay and non-ebay chess sets which the two of you have shown in your own businesses. 

Well, Rick, I would have to agree with you that TheChessPiece Website is an outstanding website. However, I would also have to say that your own display of sets (both in ebay as well as CCI events... including your own talk and demonstration back a few years ago - in Princeton? or was it Long Island?) were outstanding!

I am not sure about any possible claim of outstanding prices in either wesbite / commercial venue, however. While I think I would have to agree that both TheChessPiece and Rickofricks places of sales have among the lowest prices around for several sets, they certainly are not inexpensive.

I am specifically referring to one of my favorites (the Derby Knight set.) The prices from both of you (Rickofricks and TheChessPiece) seem to be right up there, relatively speaking. Sometimes I wonder what the (upper) limit (of quite a number of NEW sets) is going to be. (Holy Mackeral... has anyone seen the asking prices on the HOS - House of Staunton sets lately? Seems a tad astronomical!)

On a side note, a fellow chess collector (and friend!) recently shared with me that I should not be complaining about the price of any chess set, as it helps with raising (or keeping high) the asking and/or market prices of sets within our own collections. Somehow, I don't feel good about being encouraged to have that mindset. (Seems kind of "oinky" to me - even within my own oinkiness tendencies!) But thank goodness that most of us who collect chess sets do not have to foresake some meals for ourselves and families or heat during winter!

Back to the Derby Knight set... I once had such a set, which I purchased via ebay at a relatively good price (I think it was about $170 or so).

I do recall specifically emailing TheChessPiece and asking if he could come down on his price on his Derby sets (especially since I recall he seemed to be interested in especially catering to some CCI members.) As I recall, I never got an answer (and I tend - but not always - to keep emails for a VERY long time.

On the one hand, Rickofrick's own derby knights chess set, which he has had up for bid or sale seems to be about the least expensive around. HOWEVER, at least via pictures, the quality of the carving (and/or material?) of the Derby Knight Set he has had up for bid - in my not-so-humble-opinion - has not rivaled the VERY high quality of the Derby knight from TheChessPiece.

So, what happened to my own Derby set, which I owned for a couple of years? Well, to make a very long story short, I winded up giving it away as a gift to a very new chess collector. He was salivating over the set... and all over my chess room floor. How could I ever deny him such a set? Yes, I guess I am a fool, eh? Such is life! Perhaps my own motto should be "Live and (don't) learn".

So, to make a short story longer, I am now in the market for a REASONABLY PRICED Derby Knight chess set once again! (And, BTW, I hope that my criticism of all parties / sets can be taken as well as could be - as I myself am not without fault).   

Any possible reasonable offers (prices) from any of the current parties mentioned? Then again, I guess that "reasonableness" is - as beauty and desirability - is "in the eye of the beholder", eh?

John, Vt.

[rickofricks]

Thanks for your comments, John. It was you who inspired me to extend my inventory just a little and include the Derby knights - thanks! Please contact me directly and we'll chat more about them.

I release the floor here to discussion of Muslim sets. The ones I have are hand made, one set at a time, in Rajasthan. Expensive, I admit, but I think collectors will find them interesting to peruse even if not wanting to buy. TheChessPiece has sets that are easily as good quality at lower prices. 😄

Please check out my St. Louis Adventure link (on AncientChess.com) for pics and video of the Dean collection, which has a few 'priceless' Muslim sets.

May the Muslim chess set discussion continue!