The Five Knights of Lockdown

Very nice combo!

Happy new year everyone. It’s been a while since I’ve updated this thread and much has happened. With so much turmoil in the world - I feel fortunate to be able to distract my mind with chess and collecting. Much like last Christmas - this year I have shouted myself some pieces and a chess table. The pieces will be the subject of another thread… as they are emanating from Europe via a friend and still a while away. 
This table/board however was an unplanned local buy and in truth, I am not sure what I have! It was 10 minutes away by car and it is beautiful- in my eyes. It was sold by an ageing gent who said he purchased it at an antique store in the ‘70’s. The burr walnut and mahogany is lovely as is the pedestal stand and legs with their simple yet elegant detail. The inlaid wood board has 4cm squares and are a functional size. I am not an antiques expert - so it is either a good copy of a 19th century table or it is an original in ridiculously good condition. My wife loves this table - so it is not going anywhere; if real wonderful! If not, still wonderful … it was not priced as a valuable item.

l will play chess on it whether valuable or not. So…. here is a lovely little table and I’d appreciate any information anyone may be able to proffer. Cheers, Mark

Simply gorgeous!!

Thanks @Jacmater. I have had a number of insightful discussions offline - my current belief is that this is reproduction piece - maybe made in Italy during the 1960’s or 70’s to replicate the type of table made in the 1880’s. As I mentioned in my post, I think it is a lovely table and I am happy to have this high-quality piece to play chess upon.

Yes, it is Italian.

Very nice find my friend! Thanks for sharing this with us.

What a thread! The dickensian saga of a collector of chess sets! So Powder, it would be interesting (to me at least) to here tou offer a summary as of January 2024 about how your taste in chess piece design has evolved. What did tou love and value once that you no longer love? What has jumped ahead over the years? Are there any bog themes?

Can’t take him at face value. 🤓

Ha!! @baudouin27 - what excellent questions and I will answer when I have more time. Indeed, I could have sworn another person started a thread recently discussing their own journey and I was going to add to that … and yet, I can’t find that thread now.

I guess I am now a collector! Happy to share my thoughts and learnings, and be assured my tastes have changed markedly but I still enjoy curating a broad and varied array of pieces.

If there is one overarching theme currently - it’s a general move from complex and heavy to simple and lightly weighted ….

But there are contradictions in my own mind everywhere and everyday … one thing can be sure - I will continue to evolve and change my thinking as my knowledge and experience grows.

Powder, ‘ha’ indeed! I started that ‘journey’ thread yesterday, but thought better of it today, so deleted it! 😂 Then your thread appeared and naturally it drew me in. I’m looking to ‘compare notes’……. I started *not collecting* a little after you - and am still not collecting! [Although I did purchase some nice sets once upon a time in Poland.]

Like tables?

Ha! Oh this is going to be difficult…. 😆🤦‍♂️I should have clarified - “current theme about pieces” … I only have 3 tables now but many boards … alas … my collecting journey is full swings and roundabouts … trying clarify and bring sense to my thoughts may create more questions than answers. @baudouin27 - perhaps re-start your thread, I think it will be interesting to see many people’s journey.

@Powder. Agreed although intimidating with the many here who have written scholarly books and articles, and built museum-worthy collections.