The Jacques set is the nicest one I've ever seen in terms of proportion. Especially the pawns; no other set has the big, wide bases that these ones have. From an aesthetic point of view this set is the ultimate. The bishop with the round miter and large cutout is also really nice. It seems like the perfect Staunton interpretation. Solid, chunky and stable.
Nice to meet you Noshir ! Your love of chess comes over - both playing & collecting. Lovely you can share with your daughter. Great to hear what you value and pleasure your chess items have. Nice interviewing Stephen.
My mom used to say “Collectors are people who are never satisfied.” Anyway I have a few modest ones. The one that makes my spine tingle is definitely my French Chavet pieces with a simple but elegant look. They walk on fine red carpet and by that I mean a 100% genuine British tan leather board. Kasparov seems to agree with me - he beat Karpov with a same style Chavet in 1990 WCC Lyon, FRA Toodle loo, CJ
Thanks for sharing CJ! I'm sure the French Chavet pieces look brilliant on the leather board you describe. Chess Bazzar has a reproduction out there but no leather board. You are lucky!
And here I thought I was the only person with a Lardy glass eye set in which several of the pawns are virtually impossible to tell if they belong to the light side or the dark side.
