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"Deutsche Bundesform" - 3.Reich pieces

The form dates from the 30ies, specially designed for the 1936 chess olympics in Munich, destined to showcase both Nazi prowess and German chess! This set is post WW2 - ca. 60ies. Seemingly a german try for an alternative to Staunton playing sets. Smooth finish, felt, no weight. Used exclusively at the Chess Olympics in Munich 1936 - and in german club competition after WW 2!

Original "Bundesform "

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A prewar "Bundesform" set, heavily weighted, and which must have served in german club competition after the war! A plaque on the box reads "Schachklub Velmarstein 1980".  One knights seems a replacement, kings stand 82 mm - undersize for competitive play!
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Dwarf Colony

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Handwhittled german figures, most likely from the fertile Erzgebirge carvers - early 20th C. - unfortunately minus 3 pieces! Might well serve as letterweights or deco pieces somewhere, since each pieces practically is a curio figurine! Kings and queens are conventional royalty, but the rest is folks in the most diverse acts or professions, minutely carved caricatures, rather funny and appealing. The white king - much larger than his counterpart! - stands 77 mm high. The rooks are carved according to 16th century traditons, as elephants bearing a top - each beast is waving his snout in a different direction!
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Turned set

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Good size (94 mm) turned set, not felted or weighted - should be from the 50ies to 60ies and german. Interestingly, the bishops follow the austrian pattern on the light side, but not on the black side (no sign of later overpainting!)
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BK- playing set

Small well finished and varnished Staunton set, felted - from the 1940 to 1960ies. Kings 65 mm - the cross on the king is inserted - either in wood or in metal!

Bohemia Pieces

Small chess set from the Bohemia manufactury - still existant! - contained in an attractive box by the disappeared A.v. Rolland game company!
Pieces are weighted and felted, although king stands only 72 mm! Typical for Bohemia sets, the "chickenhead" knight - larger Bohemia sets were the standard equipment in the early days of the german "Bundeliga". 

German Club Size Set

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Large and heavily weighted playing set, from Germany, probably dating to the 40ies or earlier. The kings stands 105 mm with the cross, all pieces are well varnished, without a blemish - simple, strong, enjoyable set, a turner's masterpiece. Superb varnish, great tactile sensations. One whole rook duplicated by Alan Dewey.
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"Runner" Set

In german the bishops are called "runners" (Läufer)- in these sets, therefore, the bishop is always a runner! Handwhittled sets, one side in natural softwood, the other coloured brown. On ebay often sold as from the "Eifel" area - this set has a sticker saying "Louis Ari..., Borstendorf, Erzgebirge". Probably from the 40ies - but such sets were  were still made in the GDR, in a  VEB (Volkseigener Betrieb).  Kings stand 86 mm - imitation croc leather cassette.

Rokoko Erzgebirge set

Appealing set from the Erzgebirge area, traditonal stronghold of woodcraft and other handicrafts. A Rokoko style court is shown - probably Frederick the Great and his court - in natural and marroon. The main figures, despite being knife-carved,  show late barock dress styles, and are touched up with gold painting. The queen - a rokoko court lady with high hairdo, the king  (Frederick) with a three-cornered hat,  - and the rooks seem to imitate corner pavillions from the Dresden Zwinger garden palace! King stands 86 mm - age of the set is most likely 70ies, GDR days.

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