Germany

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 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. This lead or pewter set is more a curiosity. I'm not sure that it counts as a "Selenus" type set.

Germany. These 2 bone sets, sets without galleries, are a “Selenus” type according Strouhal, but "Nuremberg" is used too, because the type appears on a Nuremberg pattern sheet of 1840/1850. This type is, in the English world, sometimes called "Spindle" set. Another example is found at the 19th century (Netherlands) page. The 1st set is missing 5,5 pieces! Maybe some replacements too!?

Germany. At last a wooden set which is hard to categorize. Although it was said Polish, probably because of the indication on the box, I believe it is a German set with characteristics influenced by both "Selenus" and "Toy" sets. I think it has been made in same region, and probably by the same makers, as the "Toy" sets, which came in shaker boxes as well.

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.

"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.

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 3 groups: 6 bone sets in different, less common, variations, 7 common wooden sets and 4 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 or are accompanied by a roll-board that together with the pieces fit in a coffin. I do not know if that also applies to wooden sets. The last common bone set listed is part of a compendium. I do not have a "Nuremberg" set with board in a coffin, but I have such combination with a "Selenus" set.

Germany. Group of 6 bone sets in less common Nuremberg variations. 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 4th set, unfortunately, misses a white Knight and Rook. The 5th and 6th set in this group, where King/Queen have no lower stem, is also a less common variation of which some say that it could be Dutch!?

Note that pictures of 6th set are very yellow-->I have to redo those.

Germany. 7 common wooden Nuremberg sets. The first wooden set is extremely scarce, 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 this very large set 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 second wooden set, although smaller, is scarce 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. Not sure when that's done. The set has still its original, side-way sliding, box.

Germany. 4 common bone Nuremberg sets. Especially the bone 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. The wooden Nuremberg sets, although similar in shape, are not confused with Barleycorn, because wooden Barleycorn sets do not exist to my knowledge. Other Nuremberg sets, like those in the first group, may be confused if they look like Barleycorn sets. Decorated Nuremberg sets (none listed on the site) are mostly confused with Barleycorn, because they are much alike, unless the set has faces. Another example is found at the 19th century (Netherlands) page.

Unfortunately the 3rd set misses a white rook.

"Régence" sets of Germany are, just like the French, hard to date. However, the history of the German "Régence" sets does not go that far back as the French. I believe mid to late 19th century are the oldest. Often it is even hard to tell the origin, so I'm not sure they are all German here. Don't hesitate to leave a message if you see something that's incorrect!

Germany. This "Régence alike" set has been bought in Vienna and could be Austrian as well. Not sure of age, but could be 19th century or early 20th century? Unfortunately it misses 2 pawns and has some damage at the crowns.

Germany. This "Régence" set could be French. I have to say that I'm not 100% sure of age as well. I have put it in a mid 19th century German box which could once have contained a somewhat large Nuremberg set. I do not know in what box this Régence set had been sold originally.

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. The box is original I think, because it is periodical, made as chess box and 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.