Plastic Chess Sets

Plastic Sets

There are hundreds of thousands of possible mixtures of plastic - this includes Bakelite, Phenol or lucite, catalin, PVC, PU, acrylic mixes and so on - plastic from the greek "plastos" means formable, is an artifial mateiral generated by chemical fusions between diverse elements, and is handy as it can serve for mass production of all kinds of articles via injected molds or extruded or compressed products. For chess pieces, usually injection is the process used - but the resin mixtures vary hugely, from almost indestructible end results to the very brittle cheap plastic ....

Czech Plastic

Plastic Set from Czech(oslovaquia), in the traditional czech tournament style, made in 1989 according to the informative price sticker. All pieces are felted, they are very heavy (weighted?) and have no mold ridge. Each piece seems to be composed of several parts glued together.

The older wooden version is still being crafted today - check here ....

Bakelite Travel Set

Travel set with fat and squat bakelite pieces in excellent condition - and a second tray holds draughts stones. An earlier owner - we never own things totally, just hold 'em for a while... - has applied a new skin of flowery wallpaper to the probably dilapidated brown cardboard orginal - much improving it! Probably 20ies of the 20th C - where from?

Russian Showy Plastic

Attractive plastic set in the traditional Old Russian mold, designed with great care and detail. Pieces are weighted, no mold ridge or line is visible, posing the question how these pieces might have been made.....

Elaborate Mini Set

Plastic set from the days, when plastic was not not yet used for one-way products. The filigrane crown on the king is a separate piece, to assemble with the main part - no wonder for such an intricate segment. Kings stand 59 mm, the cassette is nicely cloth-covered, and a cloth board is also included.

Russian Plastic

Extraordinary set, produced in the 80ies as an upper end gift by the Soviet Plastics Industry Association - marbled plastic, generated by mixing variously coloured plastics in liquid form before injecting the mold. King stands 99 mm, set is felted, and contained in a superb folding box board. Another set like this, shown highlighting the translucent beauty of it, can be seen here.

Tube Set

All pieces contained in a tube, formed by king and queen! Black and white plastic - reminiscent of the famous pencil set by Cy Endfield - promoted for the occasion of the Fischer-Spasski match in 1972/1973. This plastic version - acc. to the stamp - was produced for the Queens Jubilee in 1977.

Garnier

French chess pieces, opaque white (the yellow is photo yellow!) and marbled black, with prominent mold ridges used for lateral stripe decoration! Kings stands 80 mm - some ressemblance of major pieces to a German set from the 30ies - see here.

American Plastic

Small hollow set, felted and light, unassuming - kings stand 70 mm. US - or China?

Pegged Travel Set

Pegged Travel Set - 50ies - 60ies - two pieces have been reglued, and equipped with metal pegs! Kings stand 20 mm, queens 21 mm - pegs and all. Nice marquetry boxboard.

Hongkong Kitsch

Chinese cheap set, standard downmarket toy bracket, from the 60ies - with two features that make it interesting:
- first , the figurative pieces seem to emulate a metal Henri IV set (plastic always follows wood or metal originals),
- second, the light pieces of rubbery bendable material are loaded with a metal magnet!
This set is on the crossroads between showpieces and travel set - prominent mold ridges, and massive, bendable pieces - can be chewed by younguns without danger!

Japanese Plastic

From the land of the rising sun, a well made plastic set, semi-hollow - interesting knight form. felted pieces, king stands 66 mm, ridges filed down.

Bakelite Pieces

Bakelite chessmen from the 30ies, Germany, in molded cassette, some chips. The material seems to be phenol, an early plastic material - and the presentation proves this was considered and sold as a quality set. Kings stand 74 mm.

Services Set

Dsitributed to the British Armed Services in WW2, in a cheaper plastic version, this set is in bakelite, probably 30ies - one side shows the chess symbols, the other is flat for draughts play.

Michael Graves chess set

Michael Graves is a prominent US architect, professor at Princetown university - and designer, who has always maintained a design studio parallel to his other activities. Further information on his designs, his buildings etc can be found here. Among the many objects he has designed, a chess set is a notable facet of his work.

Chess Set by Michael Graves

Meticulously designed and crafted chess box, veneered, which unfolds in stages.
the chess pieces are inspired by ovoid forms - the kings crown is similar to a lego piece, and the material is some heavy modern resin feeling slightly like bakelite. All pieces are felted, with the signature "Michael Graves" stamped on the felt - kings stand 65 mm, very heavy pieces - slippery too! Lovely gadget!

Michael Graves , cont.

Rounded pieces, nice to handle, difficult to move. ovoid forms on square bases. Quite heavy, although the king only stands 66 mm high (loaded?).