Toy Sets
Toy sets here does not mean they are only for children - they are rather toys for grown-ups - handpainted or hand-decorated souvenirs, often using prefab chessmen, or being assembled in workshops from various components. This classification is arbitrary, but You will see what is in this batch....
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Silhouettes
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.
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Rabbits
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?
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Catholic hierarchy
Handpainted set from Japan, lampooning the catholic hierarchy - bishops, mother superior, clerics. The knights are highly stylized cats - and the rooks pine-trees. Kings stand 102 mm - this set looks done by a professional workshop, possibly on the basis of prepared wooden kits .. |
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Hungary - or Taiwan?
Quirky set, composed of numerous little pieces glued together - on ebay the word is they are from Hungary - mine has a sticker "Made in Taiwan" on the box - and a second set I have is fastened with rubber bands in a chinese box/board. Kings stands 112 mm - the ubiquitous pipes here are opposite colour... |
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German Toy set
Nicely coloured set, probably home industry from Germany in the 60ies - kings stand 86 mm high. |
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Very large toy set
Made in Taiwan in the 60-70ies - composed of numerous wooden parts, painted - king stands 122 mm.
Russian poppets
Standard presents from Russia through the postwar years. Quite attractive sets, handpainted. |
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Hungarian - or Taiwan?
Handpainted in great detail, this souvenir set form the 60ies is usually billed to be from Hungary - it might well be ... painted in Hungary! Kings stands 79 mm, the pieces are again assembled from a lot separate parts...nice set. |
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Bullfighter
Lovely souvenir set from 50ies Sevilla - assembled figurines, lovely detail in painting - king stands 86 mm. |
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Prefab pieces for home painting
A set of wooden chess pieces, for doing toy sets at home - one of many that must have enlivened the days of people in the 60ies and later. From the German Democratic Republic... |
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Czech Toy - or Check Toy ?
Toy handpainted set in Czech costume? - these used to be sold as souvenirs all over Czechoslovakia - but see above - kings stand 78 mm - 60ies to 70ies ? |
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Czech Erzgebirge Toy Set
In a slightly different style - donkey knights - these set are reputed to originate in the Czech part of the Erzgebirge - kings stand 95 mm, this set was sold in an elaborate cassette by A.v. Rolland , Berlin - 60ies. |
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