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The Parrot's
Show Cage #1
If you have a chess-related item that you
would like to discover more about,
write to The Parrot. Your answers will be featured
here.
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- Lawrence Totaro
Cage 1 - Polish Chess Set
Can Chessville
readers supply information on this beautiful old set?
The only clue is
carved into the box as says “Krynica”, which is a district in Poland.
1)
Is this a Polish made set? 2) When would it have been made?
3) Is it typical of the style of the region?
4) Who is being represented by the pieces?
5) Are there similar sets representing other people?
6) What is the estimated worth of this “Krynica” set?
7) The set is obviously not turned but hand-carved, The Parrot wants to
know if the set is factory-made or from an individual craftsman.
8) Is it a one-off design and unique, or if popular, how many sets
like this would have been produced?
9) Have any readers attempted to hand-carve a set [that is, not
turned on a lathe], what tools, woods do you recommend?
10) Can anyone say how long it would take to carve and paint a set of
this quality? |
These pictures have
been provided by a Chessville reader who owns the set and would like to
discover more about it.
Do you have any information about
this Show Cage?
Write to The
Parrot !!
Reader's Responses:
-
I can confirm that the white pieces are uplanders (or
mountaineers) from Poland - that's 100% sure. I don't think they
represent individual persons. Though Slovak and Czech uplanders looks
quite similar, the name Krynica indicates Polish origin of the piece set.
Krynica is a well known health resort in the south of Poland. The dark
pieces looks to me like highland robbers, the hat of the dark king is very
typical. As these two groups were often fighting in 18 and 19 century,
this matches with battle between them on the chessboard. The judgment
about the pieces being Polish army and historical individuals doesn't seem
to be correct in my opinion. - Acmand, Poland
-
No doubt that this is a chess set with pieces depicting
people from the mountains (so-called Gorals -> gora = mountain).
Beautifully carved chess pieces indicate that this chess set is of great
value.
-
Krynica appears to have held chess tournaments in the past. According
to Mapquest there are 4 cities/Towns with the name of Krynica. If the
box indication is in English rather than Polish then the set was probably
imported to the U.S.
-
The artwork appears to be similar to a cowboy set located on
http://www.terraqueous.co.uk/images/Chess/cowboys.JPG. The set in
Question: If I could see a full figure picture of the set: King,
Queen, Bishops, Knights, Rooks, and Pawns, I (possibly) could determine what
the set is about. It very possible it is a copy of the Polish Army of
the early 19th Century. The Knights (Without a rider) resemble the
Winged Knights. The Polish Winged knights were the "Tanks of the 19th
Century". Very feared. Guessing: The Pawns, or so they appear are
painted in White with a collar with some paint collar. The only unit
in Poland that wore White, was the 13th Rgt. with lt. blue collar, and white
buttons. (Just a guess). The other Rgts. all wore dark blue. The King
- another Guess- resembles Michael Korybut Wisniowiecki (1640-1673) Michael
Korybut, son of a military hero, was unable to master the complexities of
this environment nor to pull a divided nation together. During his reign,
the once secure southern borders and alliances began to unravel.
The Queen: Is it Queen Christina of Sweden. If you see a picture of the
Queen, and take a few liberties, there could be a match. Christina declared
herself Queen of Poland at one time. Hedwig a young Queen of Poland, late
14th Century had Pig tails. The other pieces are of course costumes.
But I can not match the time frame.
-
Gert Jan Slottboom
of the The Netherlands writes about
Parrot ShowCage #1:
Hello Parrot, I have a similar chess set made in
Zakopane. It is the same area as Krynica. That is the south of
Poland (Carpathian Tatra mountains).
In answer on your questions:
-
Yes,
the set is Polish.
-
These sets have been made from the early 20th
century till the present day. This set is probably from the fifties.
-
This is indeed the traditional style of carving.
The way the pieces are carved and painted today is hardly (if not) changed
over the years. The sets are made of poplar wood.
-
The pieces represent country folk in their local
costumes. The ‘whites’ in the local dress of the region and the
‘blacks’ in the dress of the Ural people. Maybe a passive resentment
against the Russian oppression at the time?
-
As far as I know these sets are always made this way
and no other people or groups were depicted.
-
Sets like this can make many hundreds, depending their
age, quality and condition.
-
These
sets are individually crafted but in larger quantities. However,
they are rather rare.
-
As stated before: chess sets of this design are made
from the early 20th century till the present day. By no
means a one-of set. How many are made is not to trace.
-
I have done some carving. Basically you need a
good selection of chisels, and a first aid kit.
-
Believe it or not, I have seen an experienced carver in
the Czech Republic producing up to two comparable chess sets a day.
I hope my answers are of any help to you.
Kind regards.
What the Parrot wants to know is if any reader
has tried hand-craving [not lathe-turned] chess pieces as has Mr.
Slottboom; and can we see a picture of the set, and what
other advice would they offer? The Parrot wants to have a go at this too.
If you have a chess-related item that you
would like to discover more about,
write to The Parrot. Your answers will be featured
here.
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This is
the first chess collecting/historical site that features
over 300 autographs from collectors around the world
with photographs, letters, rare documents etc.. When
you're a part of the Baysholiss Collection there is no
turning back to history books...you can see all the
history you want right at your fingertips!"
- Lawrence Totaro
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