Metal Sets

Metal Chess Sets

This involves a large group of chess sets - could be in any kind of metal, from lead to gold! My sets belong basically to the largest group - made in foundry molds. Living in the Iberian peninsula, I have also noted how many daily newspapers once in a while will edit a chess set - one piece a day or a week - in order to fidelize their readers...

Lead heads

Very heavy busts in tin or lead - some features have slurred with time or through a wasted mold - it might be solid lead at that. Leaden heads - don't we all have that once in a while? Quite old, probably from the 50ies to 60ies, most likely Spain, King stand 65 mms high.

Souvenir from Jerusalem

Small brass figurines, impeccably finished, made by Hans Teppich in Jerusalem. Teppich was a Berlin artist-craftsman who fled from the Nazis to Israel in 1933, and eventually set up a workshop in the old town center of Jerusalem. Teppich made jewellery and odd objects in metal, but his main support were little abstract figurines of biblical figures in an unique and highly formal style. Among this figurines , he designed and made at least two types of chess sets. Teppich died in 1983, since kings are not marked "Teppich" and "Israel" on the base, it might date from later on....

Pewter Busts

Massive and heavy bust set - kings stand 90 mm and weigh over 450 g (1 pound!). The irregular bases show this to be a set made from an older mold - the mold ridges run at the side and have been carefully removed and polished! Quite impressive to handle - and to display. Still made by Italfama, but not in this massive quality....

For whom the bell tolls..

Cdn't resist - silhouette figures propped onto little bells - when you play a game there is plenty of noise, therefore - shd be great for sleepy players to keep awake. This is a rare souvenir from Turkey
in earlier days - the heads of queen and vizir (no queens in Turkish sets!) replicate ancient Hethite reliefs.. king stands 66 mm.

British Lead

Small British lead set by a company suitable named "Britains" - vaguely Staunton style, black and red. Kings stand 49 mm, they are usually in a much-used oblong blue cardboard box. Remnants of felt, the interior is hollow- mold ridge visible.

Chinese pewter

Very old set in a tatty chinese folding boxboard - the light side is strongly oxydated, the bronzed side has lasted better. King stands 85 mm, pieces are massive and solid.

Moors viz. Christians

Eternal theme of Spanish history, this highly expressive set enacts the old story of the Reconquista an umpteenth time. Well finished in massive pewter, one side bronzed, two piece figures set on a standard disk bottom. Spanish foundries used to turn out a lot of chess sets in this way - nowadays souvenirs have a different - cheaper - aspect. Set is from the postwar years, kings stand 60 mm, set is contained in a cloth-lined cassette.

Rounded figurines

Well rounded troupe, in vaguely renaissance attire - hollow foundry figurines, in pewter,with felts, kings height 80 mm. They are well packed in a solid plastic wrap-up box, proclaiming them as "Chicos" . That spells Spain, but who knows....

Florentine

Standard older moldcast set, from Florence, in pewter - the rooks mimic the tower of the Palazzo del Podestá, the kings might stand for Savonarola or Lorenzo di Medici, and the bases are adorned with the Florentine heraldic lily. Nice set, felted, kings stand 80 mm.

Tuscan

Old set, in wood cabinet box - with some signs of major warfare behind - two bases have been broken off. Queens stand higher than kings , at 72 mm! Hollow figures - similar designs are seen in Tuscan alabaster chess sets!

Basque Folklore

Folklore habits from Basque - a "newspaper" set edited by daily newspaper El Correo in the 90ies - showing typical crafts, dances or professions. Small size, prominent mold ridges, no felt, kings at 68 mm.

Imperial British

Impressive older set of british origin - kings stand 102 mm, and each pieces seems soldered together from various components. The knights are certainly two-piece figurines, the knights body shows foundry ridges. Much dilapidated felts, massive pieces.

Animal Set

This little zoo is actually meant to be a chess set - king as lion, Queen as Happy Lion, bishops are kangaroos!, and the pawns are rabbits. Takealong from Katmandu, Nepal - matched with a metal chess board. Pieces are difficult to handle, to say the least....

The Rose Set

The famous Rose set, patented by an enterprising lady in London in the 40ies. lead painted - usually black and red - king stands 60 mm high.

Dragons

Massive lead set, painted gold and silver - with ornate chinese dragons as knights! and elephants as rooks. Kings stand 103 mm - but queens stand 104 mm!