Germany. This board was originally part of a little table. Closed you would see the nice burr-walnut side on top. Then you could turn it 90° and open it to reveal the beautiful inlaid chess and "molenspel" (mill game) board.
- Germany?
- 19th century
- Wood 52.0×41.0×3.4 (closed)
Germany. The well known "WMF" chess sets, commonly, have silver and gold metal pieces in a wooden cassette covered with cloth. However a metal cassette exists as well and this set has painted pieces in a naked cassette. The sets were made by the Württembergische Metalwarenfabrik as promotional gift I believe. Provenance: Thomas Thomsen collection.
- Germany, by Württembergische Metalwarenfabrik
- 1896
- Metal K 6.3; p 3.6
- Box/board 32.0×32.0×5.8
Germany. This could be a pre WWII set. It has several games in it.
- Germany, "Schach Dame-Mühle Floh-Spiel"
- ca. 1940
- Glass K 2.9; p 1.5; counter Ø 2.0
- Box 20.8×10.9×2.0
- Paper board 20.0×20.0
Germany. This war time set was bought on Ebay, but seller could only tell that the set was made in a German concentration camp, but not by whom or in which camp. He got the set from a relative who did not tell him, and he didn't ask. Would have been nice to know more of the history of this intriguing set. Now we can only guess how it was made and used. Anyway, there was no lathe used and all pieces have been carved by a knife.
- Germany, handmade (with a knife, not on a lathe) in a concentration camp during WWII
- ca. 1942
- Maple pieces K 7.6; p 4.2
- Canvas board 49.0×48.7
Germany. This Bakelite alike plastic set has been made around WWII and released as promotion and advertising by Werner & Pfleiderer in Stuttgart and Tamm, who produce machines for bakeries and for plastic processing.
- Germany, by Werner & Pfleiderer
- ca. 1945
- Plastic (bakelite alike?) K 8.5; p 4.5
Germany. This is a "Staunton" inspired silhouette chess set in original box.
- Germany, "Silhouette"
- mid 20th century?
- Wood K 4.2; p 2.5
- Original box 23.0×5.1×2.8
- Pieces based on "Staunton"
Germany. This "Carved" set is made by hand, but I can't tell which wood it is. Recently (June 2021) I got information that the set is possibly by G. Henke & Co. (also known as Henke-Schach), which was located in Bad Karlshafen, West Germany. The company operated from about 1950 until the early 1970's. I do not know if Henke was a manufacturer of chess sets or just a retailer.
Note that this set was listed at Russia before I moved it to here.
- Germany, possibly by G. Henke & Co, "Carved"
- ca. 1970
- Wood K 10.5-11.0; p 6.0-6.6
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, by Kahe Pasch a furniture maker, "Modern"
- 2002
- Maple + sapeli-mahogany K 9.0; p 5.4
- Germany, by Kahe Pasch a furniture maker, "Piramid"
- 2002
- Maple + tiama-mahogany K 8.6; p 5.7
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, by Kahe Pasch a furniture maker, replica of the famous design by Josef Hartwig (Bauhaus) in 1924
- 2002
- Pear K 5.0; p 2.0