"chess", "chess set", "chess sets", "chess pieces", "chess museum", "schaak", "Schach", "échec", "ajedrez"
 

Spain  (Other European)

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Spain. The 1st Spanish travel set in this list is one of my favourites, in spite of the fact that some pawns and possibly a red knight could be old replacements. I love the simple form of the pieces and think it is a real beauty. The board is less impressive and has the clasp replaced, but does it's job well.

  • Spain
  • ca. 1900
  • Boxwood K 5.0; p 2.6
  • Box/board 17.9×8.9×3.4 (closed)

Spain. The 2nd travel set does have neat pieces in the "Staunton" style. The lacquer has been unaffected, so I think it was never played with. I bought both travel sets in the same antique shop in Barcelona.

  • Spain, "Staunton"
  • Mid 20th century
  • Boxwood K 3.1; p 1.8
  • Box/board 15.2×7.1×2.5 (closed)

 

Spain. This plastic set is in the "Staunton" style, but the box states "Stawton n.° 4". That is typical a naming by Escardibul in Barcelona and I'm pretty sure it is made by them, although not 100%. "Ajedrez" is Spanish for chess.

  • Spain, by Escardibul in Barcelona, "Stawton n.º 4"
  • 1960
  • Plastic K 7.1; p 4.3
  • Box 19.0×11.8×7.1
  • Board 43.4×43.2×41.2

Spain. The typical Spanish design of the playing set does have some Régence and Staunton influences, but stands completely on its own. I bought the set on a flew market in Barcelona for little money. Probably the set has never been used, considering the condition.

  • Spain, Spanish design
  • 1980?
  • Boxwood K 5.9; p 3.6
  • Box 18.3×10.4×6.8

Spain. This tiny chess set was a gift of a friend, who had bought it in Spain long ago. Most likely this set is a doll house set. Too small to play with. It is the smallest in my collection.

  • Spain, miniature
  • 1989
  • Boxwood K 1.6; p 0.9
  • Box 4.2×3.0×1.5
  • Board 6.2×6.0×0.5

Spain. Taracea (or intarsia) technique was used in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC and in China during Ming dynasty. The Moors brought the technique to Spain where it was used on Alhambra's furniture of 700 years ago. Thanks to maintenance and restoration is this technique preserved in Granada. Today is Damascus the only other place where the technique is in use. To make the inlays with small pieces are long strips of various materials, such as wood, metal, bone and plastic, glued in geometric patterns to form a beam, which is cut in slices.

I know boxes like this one with a wooden chess set of Régence or Spanish type. This time there is a small plastic Staunton set. Not sure it is original. The box was a gift of one of the members of my chess club. A very nice gesture.

  • Spain, Granada, "Staunton"
  • 2000
  • Plastic K 5.0; p 2.7
  • Taracea work box/board 30.0×22.3×8.3 (closed)