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Old English set from the last quarter of the 18th C, in reddish rosewood (or arbutus?) and ebony - it is rare to see such an old set in this near perfect condition. Kings stand 80 mm, the pieces are very well turned, quite solid, and the black side notably heavier.

Not the original (??) authenticated set from the Weimar Bauhaus, nor the modern licensed edition by Naef, but one of the many nameless copies of what started   most probably as an exercise for the pupils in Josef Hartwig's Bauhaus carpentry shop. Two piece kings and queens, king height 49 mm.....

Most unusual set, with features of many traits (austrian, german, french). I would tentatively place it as german, and date it anywhere between 1850 and 1930.....

Playing set from the turn of the 18th to 19th century - simple and sturdy (or it would not be around any more!) with hooded knights (?? symbolizing knights caskets??) . Rare and interesting in various details....sometimes termed as Directoire sets - I prefer Pre-Regence....

Attractive set form the recent past - Yugoslavia- 1980ies - which differs in style from the usual run of tourist chess sets from this region.  The board is run of the mill yugoslav folk art, but very well made, nicely inlaid, and with machine-driven carvings on the side - like most of these Bosnian style sets. Austrian style bishops, quite unique kings and queens. Probably made in the Subozan manufactory in Subotica, washed away in the turmoil of the Yugoslav civil war.

Early 19th C Regency - probably contemporary to the prized Lyon sets, destined for the higher classes. side cuts on the bishops, oversized knight heads - a normal playing set - king stands 85 mm.

Extraordinary set in Austrian style, probably made in Germany between 1880 and 1920. On the major pieces, the rings are stuck onto the central pillar - and rattle around freely. And at least one of the disks is warped by heat or age  ......

Spanking exemplar of an older german Stauntons  I like to term as "bulbtops". Solid pieces, a grippy knight, but not too hot on stability - kings stands 12 cms high.

Actually this set from Indonesia depicts figures from Hindu mythology - light wood, nicely coloured, very visual.

Finely painted cottage industry silhouette set of yesteryear - these jigsaw-cutout figures were very popular in former times. Could be as old as early 20th, but probably dates to second half of the 20th C.

Frequent visitors will have noted my strong partiality towards this design - we collect what we know. This set is superbly finished and in excellent condition, with massive pieces in fruit.wood. I would like to date it as second half of the 19th Century, but the impeccable state points to a much later period, possibly 1910ies to 1930ies! Kings stand 110 mm (Vienna club size) , the felts are recent, and the general impression is -  very solid pieces indeed!

Staunton set by the  famous  games manufacturer Jaques, sensibly the "Hartston" variation from about 1890-1900 (acc. to the Camaratta classification) , king at 90 mm (3.75 "), heavily weighted. "Jaques London" on both king's bases on red. No box, one pawn each side replaced, white kings cross damaged. Superb set all the same.....

There is something inherently satisfying in the wide-flared bases of these chessmen, the very heavy weighting, the dry click of the pieces as You handle them .... this set is from the "Silver" period of Jaques chessmen - according to Jaques authority Alan Fersht quality petered off after 1880. 

Appealing chess board with pictorial motives on the dark squares - printed on veneer. Germany, around 1900..

Older Russian chess men, from pre-2.WW most likely, large and weighted. What stands out is the filthy and sticky varnish - possibly a failed attempt at restoration?

Cute coffeehouse/Old Viennese set as part of a games compendium - the pieces are ensconced on metal spikes so You can lift the whole caboodle out from among the dominoes, cards, chips etc. probably Germany around 1900 - 1920.

Entrancing folklore set, with rabbit knights. Small size (king 68 mm), lots of little details speak of home craft. Knight in german means "hopper" - but this set is most likely from Russia, where the word "Kon" designates the knight. Also means "hopper"? Any comments?

Lovely little set in Old Viennese or Coffeehouse style, probably made in the Erzgebirge around 1880 to 1920. Very fine bone, the major pieces unscrew into two pieces, knight and bishops have metal screws. The kings stand 74 mm - a set like this raises a lot of questions - possibly part of a games box?

St. George (Old English)  set with the king side rooks and knights marked with a button in the contrasting colour - black side in ebony, king at 80 mm.