Germany – schaak-museum

Germany. The "Selenus" sets, typical of Germany and Northern Europe, are named after Gustavus Selenus, the pen name of Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, author of "Das Schach- oder Königsspiel" ("Chess or the King's Game"), an important chess manual of the early 17th century (1616).

The engraving in that book, showing chess pieces after which the "Selenus" type is named. This type was made a long period and the form has been evolved, but pieces very similar as in the book are made for centuries, as the ca. 1800 Danish and Swedish sets show.

The standard includes delicate lathe turned bases and shafts and tiers with galleries resembling crowns. Pieces were distinguished by heights, the number of tiers and sometimes by symbols. In England they were frequently called "Tulip" chess sets, because of the shape of the middle sections of the King and Queen.

The pieces are very fragile and easily damaged. The sets are very common, but complete and undamaged sets are scarce. You will notice that some sets listed here are rather damaged. There are 12 typical "Selenus" sets listed here, followed by some others which are disputable "Selenus" sets.

It is difficult to date these sets accurately. They have been made a long period and the shape didn't change that much. My theory, but not proven, is that in older sets the King has only one gallery, the galleries are not pierced, King and Queen do not have the feather finial, or only the King has a feather, bishops have not a flower like top and knights and bishops lack the larger and dcorated disc in the stem. Of course not all of these aspects act always together.

The 5th set, the brownish one, does have Kings with 1 pierced gallery, but I think they originally had 2 galleries. Also the white Knights do miss their collar.

The ivory "Selenus" set of the late 19th century is scarce because almost all "Selenus" sets have been made of bone. That set is a bit unusual of form as well. This set and box is very similar to a signed set made by J.G.Gärtner in the late 19th century.

The set estimated early 20th (late 19th?) century is an exception, because it has the old characteristics, except for fragility. Actually I think it is a later reintroduction of an old set. There exist also new Indian reproductions of the "Selenus" type set, which are easily recognizable because they are uncouth and miss the elegance of the antique sets. Unfortunately I do not have an example of it.

These sets came mostly in a small pine box with a sideway sliding lid. I did not make pictures of the boxes always. Set no. 8 is interesting because it comes with associated roll-board and chess box. We have seen such combinations with a "Nuremberg" set as well. Note that the ivory "Selenus" set came in a carton box with compartments for the pieces.

Germany. "Toy" sets are named so, because these sets appeared in the German toy catalogues of the mid to late 19th century like "Das Sonneberger Spielzeugmusterbuch (von 1831)". These sets are most likely made in the Ore Mountains. But we have seen them also in Nuremberg pattern sheets from the mid-19th century.

Specific on those sets is that there are some figural aspects. You always see small faces and mostly hair and hoods and so on the pieces. In spite of being somewhat figural, are these sets well suited to play with. Those sets came in shaker boxes as far as I know, but those boxes have been lost very often. I do not have a "Toy" set with its shaker box.

Knowing this, then this list of sets starts with a set without the typical "Toy" characteristics, as no faces are drawn on the pieces. However, the whole set is just in line with the "Toy" sets. Since a post in march 2023 I did a closer look at the 4th set and now I'm not 100% convinced that the faces there are original, so I wonder if we can call it a "Toy" set.

"Nuremberg", and Augsburg as well, were in the 19th century centers for toy makers. They made also chess sets. In Nuremberg pattern sheets from the mid-19th century you see this type of chess sets. Also Selenus type, including the narrow Spindle ones, and the "Toy" sets are found in those pattern sheets. The sets are often mistakenly seen as a "Barleycorn" set, because of the similar overall form. See "Barleycorn" (England) page.

Pieces of Nuremberg sets are very fragile, like the "Selenus" sets, and easily damaged, especially the bone ones. The sets are very common, except for some variations and large sizes, but complete and undamaged sets are scarce. You will notice that some sets listed here are rather damaged.

Here you see 4 groups: 4 bone sets in different, less common, variations, 3 bone sets in a decorated variation, 7 common wooden sets and 5 common bone sets. Note that in spite of the numbers here that common wooden sets are less common than common bone sets. These sets often make part of a compendium, such as the 2 last ones, or are accompanied by a roll-board that together with the pieces fit in a coffin. I do not have a "Nuremberg" set with board in a coffin, but I have such combination with a "Selenus" set.

Germany. Group of 4 bone sets in less common Nuremberg variations. Sometimes the sets are confused with English Barleycorn sets. Some Nuremberg sets are decorated with leaves (none listed on the site) and easily confused, unless the set has faces. The 2nd set, the one with open worked barrels, has better knights as average and is also a bit large for this type. The 3rd set in this group is exceptional large for the type. The flags are exceptional as well. The 4th set, unfortunately, misses a white Knight and Rook.

Germany. Group of 3 bone sets in a less common Nuremberg decorated variation, where King/Queen have no lower stem. These handsome bone sets are variously attributed to Danish, to Dutch or even Indian turners! The most likely version places them in the fertile hands of Nuremberg craftsmen, from the mid 19th century till about the 1930ies. But nobody really knows for sure, as these sets do not appear in the standard pattern books. In any case, the affinities with the standard Nuremberg rope pattern is unmistakable. Out of the ordinary bishops, lots of borehole decorations, and quite odd pawn tops, which are also seen on the open Nuremberg type. The type of Knight in the first 2 sets is also said to be Dutch, but I think it is just a later production and we see them on ordinary Nuremberg sets. The 3rd set is exceptionally large and has flags which is very uncommon for all types of "Nuremberg" sets. The Knights do let me think a bit of Uhlig Staunton Knights. Does Uhlig have made it? The felts of this set are most likely added at a later time. Nuremberg sets do not have felts normally. It was dated 1920, but I think the set could be earlier. Maybe 19th century?

Note that pictures of 2nd set are very yellow-->I have to redo those.

Germany. 7 common wooden Nuremberg sets. These wooden sets are not confused with English Barleycorn sets, because the latter hardly exist in wood.

The 1st wooden set is extremely rare, because of the size and the box that was said being original. That box has not a side-way sliding lid as (smaller) Nuremberg sets have, but maybe such box is not suitable for such very large set. I bought it on an auction and the set was listed in the catalogue as made from arbutus wood, but I do doubt that strongly. I believe these wooden sets were made of Maple and Cocobolo, but I am not 100% sure of these woods.

The 2nd wooden set, although smaller, is rare as well because of its size. It is a very pretty size to play with. This set has its original, side-way sliding, box.

The wooden set with the black pieces is odd. I found it intriguing, as these sets are never black. Most likely this set has been painted over some day. That's inclusive the white pieces. Not sure when that's done. The set has still its original, side-way sliding, box.

Germany. 5 common bone Nuremberg sets. Especially the sets in this last group are often confused with the English Barleycorn sets. That mistake is very persistent and enters even the best books on chess sets. Another example of the type of sets listed here is found at the 19th century (Netherlands) page.

Unfortunately the 3rd set misses a white rook.

The sets 4 and 5 are compendiums. The last one was dated 1930. That could have been based on the Bakelite? discs in it, but I think those were not original. In that case they would have made a better fix in the box. Actually I think the set is much earlier. Could be late 19th century.

Germany. The next 6 "Régence" sets listed could be French, from Sudetenland or Polish, but I have listed the sets here because of what I think is most likely. They all are, I think, 20th century and German. I have put a '?' when not sure. Maybe the 1st is French. The set with indication Sudetenland? may be much older (based on comparison with the Sudetenland set at Czechia (Other European) page). The set with indication Oberlausitz, came together with the "Coffeehouse" set in the same sideway sliding box. Like that "Coffeehouse" set it can be Polish, few km from Oberlausitz.

All 6 are cheap sets. No real value for the true collector, but just informative. Except 1st and 2nd are they rather small and not very suitable for normal play. Maybe they are intended as travel sets, but then I mis the boards. Could have been part of games compendium as well.

Germany. "Coffeehouse" sets of Germany are less common as the Vienna ones. There were several makers in the Ore Mountains like Uhlig and Wittig. The first set listed here is a real beauty and probably made by either one of those makers, as is told to me. On the other hand it is very similar to Austrian sets, apart from the way the pieces are felted and finished. The box could be original I think, because it fits the set very well. But I'm not 100% sure, as others could not tell me.

The "Coffeehouse" set from Oberlausitz came together with the "Régence" set in the same sideway sliding box. Like that "Régence" set it can be Polish, a few km from Oberlausitz.

Set 3 is a wartimes poverty set, always sold as glass. I have seen them in war boxes for he war front. I call this rather common set "Coffeehouse inspired", but is that designed so!?

Germany. The "St.George style" sets from Germany are presumably based on the English St.George sets and are often confused with them. I'm not so sure how common these sets are and in which period exactly they have been produced. Early 20st century is my best guess. Makers are unknown to me as well. I did not found the pattern in the Uhlig catalogue. I think the sets could have been made in the Ore Mountains, but that's just a guess.

The 1st set is better as usual and came in a box/board which could be original. Unfortunately that box/board is not in good shape, but the set is good, except for a few fly bites on ears.

The 2nd set is in its original box.

The 3rd set has a common box/board. In this combination the sets are more often found.

Germany. The 1st set is a beautiful presentation set of which some said that it could be Uhlig, but I do doubt that strongly because some specific characteristics are not seen. Especially the very own cross on the King, as well as the characteristic form of the Knight. Of course this exquisite Knight is not comparable with the usual Uhlig Knights. There are ivory Uhlig sets in a presentation box known with all pieces as the ordinary bone sets of Uhlig and the Uhlig catalogue does mention an ivory set, but there is no drawing.

Germany. Next two sets, called "Modern" and "Piramid", are made by Kahe Pasch, the artist name of Karl Hermann Paul Schäfer. Kahe Pasch is a German furniture maker, but has already made some designs of chess sets, which he produces in an edition of approximately 20 in his small basement workshop at home. I love these simple abstract designs, which are made of nice woods and with great precision. Kahe Pasch made very nice boards as well, but I do not have one. The sets are suitable to play with, although I have to say that the pieces of the "Piramid" set tend to fall out of your hand because of the tapered form.

Germany. This Bauhaus set was designed by Josef Hartwig in 1924. The idea behind the pieces is that they show how they move. This replica has been made by Kahe Pasch, the artist name of Karl Hermann Paul Schäfer. In fact he had listed a set on Ebay, but that set wasn't 100% accurate. Just for me he made this set, with my directions, exactly according the original. Later he made some pieces of a design of my own, but I did not continue the project. See 20st century (Netherlands) page.

See also Bauhaus (1) about the different designs Josef Hartwig made.

Germany. The first travel set is the weirdest thing in my collection. Quite unique I think, because I have never seen another. This is "M. KÜRSCHNER'S IMPROVED POCKET-CHESS-SET WITH BONE PIECES". Although improved, it is hard, if possible at all, to play with. The copper bases do fit in the grooves holding the pieces in place, but because the pieces are so small, you hit them easily and ruin your position as you try to make a move. Unless you use a pincet or so. If you try to find information on M.Kürschner then you find a chess player/problem composer under that name in the late 19th century. Chessbase lists 38 games of Max Kuerschner from 1887 to 1910. I don't know if these are the same person and if he is the creator of the set.

Germany. Travel sets with pegged bone pieces, which can be stored in the board that acts as a little box, are rather common and widely spread. I have seen them in Czechia, Germany, England and Netherlands, to name a few countries. The 1st set listed was bought in Prague, the 2nd on E-Bay in England, the 3rd a gift from my sister and the 4th bought from a collector in the Netherlands. Reason the 2nd was put on the England page on my site at first. However, I was told it is probably German, and have all sets listed on my German page now. You can play with these sets, but it is not easy to handle the small pieces.

The 3rd set is of better quality as average.

Note that the 4th set actually are 2 sets of which one has a board with missing side and some pieces broken or missing (2 pawns). It is extreme hard to see difference in pieces between the sets, except for the white colour. It might be that one set is resin and that some mixture of red pieces has taken place.