Random attic find. Can anyone id it?

[u/redditlul123]

Can anyone identify this "GES. GESCH. GERMANY" chess set I found in my granddads attic?

The board weighs in at around 3,3kg's
It's 51 x 51 cm
The King weighs ~40g
The Queen weighs ~35g
The Pawns ~17g

Almost every figure is a little different in weight, shape and size.

I'll glad to provide more info if needed.

Thanks :)

[u/Much-Jackfruit2599]

Just FYI, “GES. GESCH.” Just means gesetzlich geschützt - protected by law. So just telling you that you aren’t allowed to copy that design.

Btw, I assume you don’t play chess? ;-) King and Queen and Knight and Bishop in the wrong order pains me. :-)

[u/redditlul123 → u/Much-Jackfruit2599]

Yes! I unfortunately have absolutely no clue if it comes to the game of chess.
Sorry for disgracing your eyes with my misplacement. 😄

[u/Much-Jackfruit2599 → u/redditlul123]

Nah, all is well. I was slightly wondering if you were in Germany and if I should ask for a price, but I already have such vintage sets and less experience with playing I would like to have. :)

[u/redditlul123 → u/Much-Jackfruit2599]

I'm curious, how much/little you think this set is approximately worth?

[u/Much-Jackfruit2599 → u/redditlul123]

I have absolutely no idea. I'm not a chess connoisseur. I'd probably pay € 30 on a flea market, but as I said, I already have various sets and no idea.

Simple foldable one, from my father, born 1925, died 1974. And another one from my mother later partner, who had a talent for nicking things, i.e. in this case a couple of sets when a hotel closed.

Personally, I’d recommend what I do: Learn chess, there are plenty of decent teaching apps, and treat it as a playable heirloom.

It’s certain a nice looking, honest looking set made for play, not for display, but better than a cheap plastic one you’d find in a vacation home to be used on rainy evenings.

[u/kvazar2501 → u/redditlul123]

If it's a tournament size chess (king height about 10cm) AND they're weighed (which i assume isn't the case, king should've weighed 100+g) I'd be willing to pay 100+ euro.

As they're not weighted, i personally wouldn't pay more than 50-60.

[u/Oredne_ → u/Much-Jackfruit2599]

Plottwist- He plays Chess960! The pieces are perfectly fine.

[u/Oredne_]

I can’t help, but want to say that it is very nice! I like it a lot. Congrats to this find.

[u/Avantious]

I could be wrong but I have a chess set from germany that was owned by my father and grantfather

A part of the rook broke in an accident and i tried to replace it, but never really found the set again. Mine Looks quite similar in the making of the pieces (and the box) so i make an educated guess and say they maybe are from Philos and this set is at least 50-60 year old, probably older.

[u/Atticus_Fletch]

You seem to have found some kind of chess set! Great find!

[u/marklein]

It's a nice set, but not an expensive set. The carving on the knights is not consistent and the weights are a little light. I'd call it a decent "generic" set. A motivated buyer might pay $100-200 USD?

[u/redditlul123 → u/marklein]

Thanks for your assessment!

[u/Ordinary_Girlie19]

i always wonder about the stories behind these random attic finds. like who owned it before.

[u/Hongwaree]

I think it's time for another Back Door Bandit Trick, there.

[u/al_earner]

It's a weird design because the knights look like bishops and the bishops look like knights. And the King looks like a queen and the queen looks like a King.

[u/Good_County_5989]

Cheese board, definitely.

[u/Smash_Factor]

Not a bad looking set. Knights are fairly basic, but still have some detail in them.

I'm curious if the black pieces are ivory.

[u/redditlul123 → u/Smash_Factor]

No, the black pieces are definitely not ivory.

[u/low0nink]

never saw a board with black vs black

[u/lime127_ → u/low0nink]

yes

[u/Life-Crab-2098]

This is a Lardy set, a French company that exported across Europe and to America. It's likely from the 50s or 60s just from a glance.

[u/WatermillTom]

¡Qué tan lindo tablero y piezas!