Knubbel Chess Sets

Thanks - looking back on my collecting - I laugh at myself for enjoying this plastic set so much … and plastic on a glossy board; serious players are turning in their graves or dry reaching at their screens!😆 Alas, not me - a wee little gem. Of course old wood remains my favourite but I feel fortunate to appreciate this set; I don’t think it’s overly common - even though it’s plastic and must have been made in reasonably large numbers at some point in the past.

I have a couple of these plastic sets myself. I assume they are from the 50s and Danish as described in the article "The true origin of the "Knubbel" sets" by @EfimLG4 - although I don't remember if the plastic version is mentioned specifically.

Beautiful set, and another great find. Same stunning deep rich burgundy red. The reversed bases really add to it, and I haven't seen mention of that before. Apart from the Holger/Klaus article there's not a lot of info around on the knubbels. Funny, a well priced, nice condition 60's set (wood) was on Oz ebay last week. You might go a year and not see one and then a couple pop up at once.

What a beautiful set....This thing is nicer than some wooden sets out there. You scored with this one Powderdigit! I want one!!!!!😩

This made me smile because I saw the same thing …. And I bought this one because I was intrigued by the box!! More to follow but first Friday drinks and a game of chess at a pub nearby.

That's funny. Two great sets (English bone as well) on Oz ebay that must be very rare in Aus. Both look in great condition, and both really really good value. Do I buy them just because of that, or do I restrain myself and not face wraith of wife? I chose to restrain. There's a very similar set in Sophie atm for $450 ish and one in Denmark for about $250 + postage so you can't go wrong.

Wrath or wraith? Anyways, it is good not to buy just because you know it is a rare occasion or a great value, Kram, at least that's my take. 'cos we are no resellers, nor accumulators. If you outright loved it, you would have bought. I saw an improbable set recently, beautiful beyond compare, knights from heaven but glass eyed, which I just never like. So I made no bid. Another member here posted it a week later. Things don't get lost. Meanwhile, Powder's way to get the interesting stuff to see and feel it with his own eyes and hands, eventually resell some, is an instructive way, because when uncertain, live use will tell. Sympathizing wife is a great factor, too

Yes I don't think I've ever really regretted behaving myself and passing up a set. As you say, they will be bought and loved by others. Maybe in a year or 3 I'll have more spare time, or more spare cash to buy and enjoy a similar or better set when one comes up in future. PS It took me a while to appreciate glass eyes. I don't have any, but I like them! One day.

Here's my Danish union set (aka knubbel) This was purchased a few months ago on Oz ebay. This and a 1920ish French boxwood dogface set were packaged up and listed as 'Soviet Chess 64 pieces'. The sets came from a deceased estate in Sydney and I can picture an old guy cherishing these two modest sets for a long time. It's been estimated as 1950 after comparing the Knights to a Danish advertisement of that time, but nothing concrete. The pads appear to be leather and are hard due to age. I'm still trying to find evidence that these were original. Featured on an old Soviet board with 35mm squares. A bit too small for serious play but sits well in my office. There's still not a lot of info and photos on these sets so great to see this thread growing. Any info appreciated.

It looks like that set has been around the traps. Wonderful! What a great set! Thank you for posting. 👍

The board may be overkill for the pieces … but what the hell - a beautiful union - pieces and board.

Perfect

Wow, that board is fantastic! What is that?

Powder has always had a propensity for coming up with unusual and "great finds". That board is one of them.

Powderdigit, I remember that you have already shown several pictures of that chessboard, but I cannot find them. Can you link them again?

Hi all, thank you for your kind words and positive feedback. Here’s a link to my original post regarding this board. https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/antique-table-in-an-amateurs-hands-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly?page=16#comment-98422407

And here’s another link in a different thread:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/the-five-knights-of-lockdown?page=29#comment-97654851