Reproduction sets

[rascasso]

re: chesspy vz. lichess Dear brethren, I have some interest in this subject - on account of the first major repro set issued, the Lewis chess set copies. I understand the discovery of the Lewis set in its time created such enormous interest in these pieces that large quantities of reproductions in the most various materials were fashioned to sate the hunger of the public for their own Lewis set! andthis interest continues - even the House of Jaques in London has been selling Lewis repros! Considering the difficulty of visiting the British Museum - or the Scottish National Museum now - these copies have been of enormous benefit for a lot fo people, and some of the repros are even very appealing for workmanship and/or material. This Gaudi emanation set discussed has not made a singular historic piece available to the many - it is a high price luxury adornment in very expensive material - of dubious taste (the board) - to cash in on a neorich socialite section of society - that is if it sells. A perfect waste of good mammoth tooth. From an artistic point of view, it wd not make any difference if it was fashioned in ceramics, sea tang or painted horse manure. This set has no pedigree, no inherent reason to be except to gratify the tired eyes of those who've got almost everything - it is a high end version of souvenir trash, and does nothing to bring Gaudi closer to the public, on the contrary. Generally speaking, a repro is what it says - a reenactment of something created before. It may be useful if the original is gone or unavailable, but it will always lack the je ne sais quoi - authenticity, patina, mystics, the hallmark of the original artist, what have You. That is not dependent on the quality and value of the material used - mammoth tooth or resin, this just changes the cash value. If You walk though a town entirely reconstructed on the old lines - like the old town center of Warsaw, destroyed in WW II and reproduced afterwards - You will sense quite strongly where lies the difference. Best reegards to chess collectors galore, and a Great years End to all (polishing their chess sets, no doubt...) Nicholas

[d-baron]

I have seen those, they have been most helpful. The tips did have me looking at the sets in question suspiciously even before anyone said something. But the bleaching idea was a totally new thing to me. Seems weird.

[thechessfactory]

hi i was in india lately when i found a catalog of all the replicas of great classical sets watch out for sellers overpricing you on these. http://picasaweb.google.com/thechessfactory/ReplicasFromIndia#

[dancing_with_volves]

Thanks for good information. Some figural sets could well pass as vintage European, I imagine.

[chessspy]

Thanks Adi, Is it just the one page? Alan D.

[rickofricks]

I've taken an interest in the 'Northern Upright' sets, also known as 'Edinburgh Upright.' We saw a lot of these in the recent Chess Collectors meeting in Princeton, in Jon Crumiller's phenomenal collection. I've found a source for these in India, and I find the pieces to be very good, though not too expensive. Anyway, I bought a few. I'd be interested in what other members know about the Upright design. So far, I've managed to learn that the design is attributed to a certain Lord John Hay, around 1845. It's popularly considered a precursor to the "Staunton" design, and Howard Staunton himself had a few good words for it -- with preference for his own namesake of course. Judging from the widespread representation of these sets in collections, it would seem they got quite a bit of play before the Stauntons took over. What do you know about these? Rick -- Rick Knowlton

[acf1515]

Hi Rick / All, I've always liked the Upright sets, but I've yet to aquire one for my own collection. (Not enough money!) However I do have a set which, according to Michael Mark's authoratitive article "British Chess Sets", is a precursor to the Upright design. See: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/ACF1515/EnglishSets#5178387425874464578 Cheers Jim

[chesspurr]

Hi Rick Last year i paid a visit to the world famous Edinburgh chess club . Whilst i cannot prove anything yet, i firmly believe these upright sets date back to the 1820's.

[rickofricks]

Hey Guy -- I'm very interested in that possible early date. Can you give some info on the reasons for your firm belief? -- Rick Knowlton

[chesspurr]

Hi Rick, When i saw the pieces of three surviving but differing sets, the style of turning looked provincal or more primative. On one set in particular it sure looked as if it was perhaps the first set ever made. The patination was superb on all of the pieces , but their stability was clearly lacking. In the 1820's and early 1830's there were no railways so the idea of the pattern being copied years later seems pretty logical as winning the famous chess match against London might well have encouraged visitors to their venue. Thus the pattern would have been seen by others . An old CCI article offers firm evidence that Hallet of Holburn were making Upright sets in 1840! Some may wish to believe the Upright was made in the mid 1840's but if that is the case, the Edinburgh sets are bad copy sets with amazing fake patination , and the chessmen were played with by poverty stricken scots who somehow managed to afford to buy their own chess house . We are discussing one of the most famous chess clubs in the world, and it was formed in 1822. It is my humble belief the Upright was the clubs pattern in their early years .

[rickofricks]

Hey Guy, Thanks for giving me a glimpse from across the Atlantic! I've never been to England or Scotland, and it's hard to grasp the lay-out and history from over here. If I understand you correctly, you've found from your first-hand observations at the Edinburgh chess club, that the Upright style was a local standard already when the Edinburgh club was established in 1822. Am I getting the right message here? What about this fellow, Lord John Hay? It seems that he is popularly credited with 'designing' the Upright style. Any credence to that at all ... or just some over-blown rumor based on some silly misinterpreted moment in the misty past? I'm very interested in all that you know about this. Much Thanks, Rick -- Rick Knowlton

[chesspurr]

Hi Rick When i visited the club it stunned me just how basic the chessmen looked. I was accomponied by a fellow CCI member ...see Peter in picasa albums, and we both thought on similar lines. We both discussed lord Hay with the clubs historian, but he was unable to tell us anything. In fact the club have no records they can locate offering information on the origin of their sets . So i am simply of the opinion the Upright pattern was probably made for the Edinburgh chess club by a local turner,and years later a visitor admired the pattern,perhaps purchased a set from the club and got a fleet street turner like Hallet of Holborn to make better quality sets. It is pure speculation but it does seem rather odd a CCI member wrote an article clearing offering evidence of Hallet making these sets in 1840, and yet some people insist they were only created a few years before Jaques, who clearly must have seen that article, as they are CCI members Viewing the surviving pieces at the famous club was the clincher for me anyway. These older upright chessmen have a certain look which differs greatly from top fleet street makers. I also found out some older sets were given to loyal members as the club upgraded their sets,and this might explain why the wooden slender sets are so scarce.

[rickofricks]

Thanks Lots, Guy! Say, you don't know of any pictures of those early Uprights, do you? It's 'too bad' the Edinburgh club isn't all prepared to give a locally informed scholarly account of the history of the sets. It seems this happens a lot -- a style comes into vogue and then, suddenly, someone with the wherewithal to publish and copyright lays claim to the design itself. I do find the Uprights a particularly handsome design, I imagine one that could well have become our standard if not for the heavy push by the Staunton camp. Thanks for your insight into the origins! -- Rick Knowlton

[chesspurr]

Hi Rick I have one image that could aid you . However if you mail me direct guy.lyons@ntlworld.com i will let you have it, your E mail address is not in my locker.

[knight_knight_zzz]

Hi, all. If this topic interests you, take a look at 320517812820. - Price is not bad, and it is free shipping. - Seller has 5 of these at the moment. - King is 5+ inches tall. - Quality does not seem bad (almost good, even.) - Good pictures I think (said for my friend Guy's sake... one of a few connoisseurs of very good chess set pictures on these threads and/or Picasa, etc.. Of course, I am not one of them... 😮 :_| 😉 QUESTION: Should we believe this dark side is really "ebony"... or another similar dark-colored wood? Seems like I have heard that ebony is very hard to come by these days... John, VT.

[chesspurr]

Good question John Buy Ebony wood, lumber from Sydney Plantation Find complete details about Ebony wood, lumber from Sydney Plantation. You may also find variety of Ebony wood, lumber from other Suppliers and ... This info appeared on a 30 second Google search . 😉