4.1" PURPLEHEART WOOD UNIQUE STAUNTON CHESS SET - eBay (item 180241934120 end time May-16-08 10:30:36 PDT)

CUSTOM PURPLEHEART WOOD AND SPECIAL KNIGHT STAUNTON CHESS SET 4.1" King, 1.875" Base, One Of Only FIVE Made In Rare Exotic PURPLEHEART Wood Having this rare Knight...an exhaustively detailed beauty! (THESE HAVE SOLD FOR OVER $1,400 IN THE PAST! GET ONE OF MY LAST TWO AT AN ABSURDLY LOW PRICE!)

(NOTE: I AM LEAVING OUT OF TOWN ON MAY 21 AND WILL NOT RETURN TILL END OF AUGUST. IF YOU WANT DELIVERY OF THIS SET BEFORE I LEAVE, YOU MUST ONLY USE PAYPAL AND PAY WITHIN TWO DAYS OF THE END OF AUCTION. OTHERWISE YOU WILL HAVE TO BE HAPPY TO WAIT TO RECEIVE THE SET AT THE END OF AUGUST. SO PLEASE DO NOT BID UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO PAY USING ONLY PAYPAL AND GET PAYMENT TO ME WITHIN TWO DAYS OF THE END OF THIS AUCTION! THANKS!)

Here is a SPECIAL treat for those of you looking for one of the rarest chess sets ever produced. BUT NOW I HAVE STARTED THE PRICE AT UNDER HALF IT'S ORIGINAL PRICE AND ITS BY-IT-NOW PRICE IS low BECAUSE THERE IS NO EXTRA PURPLEHEART QUEEN. This is ONE OF ONLY FIVE chess sets I made in this wood, size, style, and with this particular Knight design. HOW THIS CHESS SET EMERGED...

I had this idea a few years ago (2001) to produce just a handful of truly outstanding chess sets, but they absolutely had to be different than anything ever seen before, and they HAD to be truly rare. Not only in their styling (I had to keep the best qualities of existing Staunton styles, but had to "tweak" them, making them even better), but also in the materials.

After collecting my own chess set collection over many years, being an avid wood-worker and adoring exotic woods and after observing the marketplace, I realized that by and large EVERY chess set I had ever seen was made from one of only 5 or 6 different species of woods - as many as there are fingers on a hand! Since the mid 1800's, for the dark side, the only woods used have been Ebony and Rosewood (though one could sometimes see a set made from Olivewood or Walnut).  Then there were some recent innovations with the use of Red Sandalwood and Sheeshamwood. For the light side, Boxwood has remained the classic wood since the mid 1800's (sometimes Maple)

ONLY 5 WOODS TYPICALLY USED IN 99.99% OF ALL CHESS SETS EVER MADE...

I will try to make a long story short, and then tell you more about this specific chess set. First, as referenced above, I was totally bored with the choice of existing chess sets since they ALWAYS had the same 5 TYPES of wood. My experience with these woods, and my research, led me to the following conclusions about the 5 common woods found in chess sets for the past 150 years:

Ebony - this has been used for 150 years, but it is extremely brittle and prone to chips and cracks. Every collector of chess sets has experienced their Ebony men with cracks and chips. (it seems almost every Ebony John Jaques set has cracks or chips mostly in the Ebony men.)  Ebony is not as rare as the price would indicate; actually the high prices for Ebony sets come from the fact that being so brittle, there is much waste in the production of each chess set. Ebony is used because it is a very hard wood, takes a fine polish, and is very dark so that it contrasts well with light side men; Rosewood - this is often a wonderful wood to use: hard, dense, finely grained, it is not brittle, is often quite beautiful having lovely grain, color, and figure, but it is quite common and can often be boring with muted colors or figure. The usual Rosewood used these days is Indian Rosewood, a very common form of Rosewood; Red Sandalwood - often miss-called "Budrosewood", this is a lovely and dense wood, however it, like Ebony, is extremely brittle and prone to extreme cracking and chipping. It also darkens over time - the red color muting into the black swirls; Sheesham - there are actually two types, light Sheesham and Dark Sheesham, both a form of Rosewood found in India. Dark Sheesham is a finer quality wood and much rarer. Often the light Sheesham is advertised as "Golden Rosewood"; Boxwood - this has been the standard wood for the light men since the 1840's and remains the perfect, if not the only, choice. It is hard, dense, finely grained, and has a perfect "yellow hue". Boxwood exhibits a unique darkening over 50-100 years of use, into a lovely, yellowish patina unique to that wood. If properly dried and cured before use, Boxwood is not prone to cracking or chipping.

THAT WAS BORING!!

To me, the "same old chess sets made from the same 5 woods" were, quite honestly, common and BORING! The truth is, they ARE common and boring.

I thought there had to be a market for chess sets made to the finest exacting standards, but fabricated from truly rare woods, exotic hardwoods...chess sets that would actually APPRECIATE over time. As a collector of chess sets and a lover of woods, I saw the value in such a chess set and hoped others would also (chess players, collectors, chess aficionados, someone looking for a rare gift for a friend or loved-one, even art collectors). Therein I began a three-year quest to find amazing woods - rare exotics never before used to produce chess sets in the history of chess.

I HAND-SANDED EVERY SPECIES OF WOOD

To find truly amazing woods, I researched exotic hardwoods from around the world - South/Central America, Africa, Asia, Australia and the United States. I determined that there were about 50 species I would consider, and so I purchased and took possession of samples of every one.

Then I did my own investigative woodworking and experimenting, sanding by hand a sample wood block of each species through as many as 9 sandpaper grades (from 120 through 2000 grit). I observed their qualities such as hardness, density, color, figure, even their aromas, and finally decided on about 25 species to use. Those that "passed" my criteria were sent in very small batches to the finest craftsmen in the world, to create chess sets no one had ever seen (these exotic woods are truly rare, very expensive woods, particularly sourced from already-downed trees so as not to infringe on the deforestation and denudation around the world, or from existing, non-endangered forests) . Before you is one such set, details of which follow.

"ONE OF 250" IS RARE?

If you want a truly rare, collector quality, modern "heirloom" chess set, wouldn't it be nice if it appreciated in value? To find a modern one, you may consider looking on various websites or other sources. What you will see are some lovely chess sets, beautifully made (I've actually owned many of these!) made from EBONY or RED SANDALWOOD or ROSEWOOD for the dark side, and BOXWOOD for the light side. The finest sets will cost you from $750 to over $3,500. On the lower end of this price range ($750 - $1,200) are fine sets that have no limit to the number produced; they are offered all the time, day after day, year after year. They are finely made, but common, having absolutely no collector value whatsoever, and without question depreciate in value the moment you take ownership. If you ever want to resell such a set, it will absolutely lose money . (I've owned such sets, did not use them at all, held them for 5 years, and took a 35-50% loss upon their resale...so I know this fact first-hand.)

Now, on the high end of this range - the $1,500 sets and up - you may begin to see statements of their "collectibility" such as "A Run of 250" or, rarely, "Only 100 Will Be Produced". Once in awhile you may even see "A Run Of 25". Nonetheless, for thousands of dollars these are still the typical Ebony or Red Sandalwood sets! BORING!

What's more, their value has never been proven to go up, ever! (I have also owned more than one of these "Run of 25" sets...and took a 50% loss on it after reselling it after holding it for 7 years - a pristine set I had never used!!) Once again, you are assured of a loss should you ever decide to sell even these so-called "rare" sets. With their rarity questionable and their  DEPRECIATION guaranteed, why would you spend $1,500.00 TO OVER $3,000.00 on one of them??

DETAILS OF A TRUE COLLECTOR'S SET

THE WOOD - PURPLEHEART

The dark pieces of your custom chess set are made from PURPLEHEART and is also known as AMARANTH. Purpleheart is a hard, heavy, dense wood with medium to fine texture and is known to resist denting. This lovely, purple-colored wood comes from the countries of Central and South America, including: Boliva, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Surinam and Trinidad. It is used for its beauty and for its incredible resistance to rot from wet conditions and so it is sometimes seen in boat-building, bridge construction, canoes, diving boards, docks, harbor work, wharf construction, mine timbers and wherever incredible strength is required.

The purpleheart tree grows to dramatic heights of 170 feet with diameters up to 4 feet. The dense wood weighs over 60 lbs per cubic foot and sinks in water. When freshly cut or worked, it is brownish, but quickly turns a remarkable PURPLE color upon exposure to air. Until now (as of 2008), and until my chess sets, no Purpleheart chess sets are known to exist anywhere in the world.

THE CHESSMEN

This heavily-weighted set boasts a 4.1" King with the words "UNIQUE STAUNTON" at the base of the King, and King crown stamps on the Kingside Rooks and Knights. Finally, we applied the finest green wool baize felt cloth to the bottoms. Included is a laminated Certificate of Authenticity and special wood-information cards describing each wood as well as wood care. This set is one of only five in this configuration ever to be made. Slight changes in styling or sizes in future sets of this wood, though none is planned at the moment.

I know the owner of this wonderful set will be overjoyed, and I am convinced you will have made a smart investment in a set that will actually APPRECIATE significantly over the coming years.

DETAILS

BE SURE TO scroll down to see ALL THE PICS BELOW OR TO THE SIDE!!
4.1" King, base 1.875"
SELLING LOW BECAUSE THERE IS NO EXTRA PURPLEHEART QUEEN
The set is heavy, rare and insurance is required. The men are individually wrapped.
PERFECT FOR BOARD SIZES OF 2" UP TO 2-1/2" squares
Brand New, pristine, unused
I accept PAYPAL (Credit Cards used through PayPal), Money Orders, Cashiers Checks, Bank Certified Checks, and Personal Checks (I must wait till personal checks clear to send out set unless I know you as a repeat customer).
Successful bidder agrees to pay shipping cost which is approximately $20 (+ $10 ins.) in the continental US but this will be higher outside of the US. If outside US, shipping costs will be determined at completion of auction. This item is rare, valuable and will be packed with great care to cushion all pieces individually and with great attention to detail. THIS UNIQUE CHESS SET WILL ONLY BE SENT FULLY INSURED, INSURANCE PAID BY PURCHASER.
Winning bidder: please contact me immediately to get my shipping address and send yours - depending on your method of payment there may be automatic PAYPAL or BAY links to do this, else email me directly.

HERE ARE SOME TESTIMONIALS FROM SATISFIED AUCTION WINNERS OF MY CHESS SETS

Hello, I purchased a "purple-heart" wood set (4 in king) from you about 3 or 4 years ago. I love it! It has become a fascinating conversation piece when I show others my collection. I really am interested in the "bokote" set. I just wondered if I would be able to get the 15% discount. Also, does it come with extra queens? Regards, Frank

(3/12/06) The Cocobolo set that I purchased from Unique Staunton is simply one of the best available today. It defeats any of it's competitors hands down. The styling of the Knight is most pleasing to the eye as well as the hand. The rest of the dark pieces truly must be seen to be believed. The colors of the Cocobolo wood are outstanding. Wonderful striping. The custom made leather lined storage box is also of outstanding quality and beauty. Thank you for allowing me to own one of your small production run of these outstanding sets. – Lee

(1/18/06) Hi Elliot, I received the box. They are beautiful. We love them. As for the shipping. You did a great job packing them. The box was soaking wet all the way through, even the newspapers. In fact, they delivered it in a plastic bag. The chess set was saved because you wrapped each piece individually. So thank you for your excellent care of the set. Sincerely...Julia

(1/16/06) Elliot: The Black Drueke set arrived today in excellent condition. Many thanks for putting this fine old set up for auction, and for packing it so securely. Always a pleasure to do business with you. Gary

(1/11/06) Dear Elliot, Just a quick note to say that I got the chess pieces today and they are simply beautiful! Thank you very much for the care and workmanship you put into these. We'll enjoy them for a very long time. Best wishes, Bob

(12/30/05)Received the set today. Everything was fine and I am extremely pleased with the care that you give to each piece. This really is a beautiful set and one that I will cherish for years. Thank you.

(12/29/05) GOOD NEWS! The chess set was delivered late this afternoon. I really enjoyed unwrapping the pieces, especially the knights! I thought every piece was well done. I feel I got a very good value, and a pristine set to enjoy for a long time.

(12/23/05) I must say that I am more than just satisfied with our transaction. These pieces are wonderful. Thanks again. Happy holiday to you and your family….Jim

(12/23/05) Good morning Elliot, your chess set was waiting for me when I returned home from work yesterday; shipped like lightening, thanks a lot! The set was well padded and protected; even though one corner of the package showed slight signs of rough handling, the chess set and its box were in perfect shape. The set is magnificent, better than you described, and even my young son stopped in the middle of our first game to exclaim "Just look at these knights!" (He went on to win anyway). Thanks for a great set, the very finest, will leave positive feedback.

(12/20/05) Elliot: The package just arrived in fine shape. Thanks for delivering a quality product. The pictures do not do it justice. We are totally satisfied with this purchase, and accordingly will be leaving eBay positive feedback on your account. Thanks again and happy holiday…Jim

(12/9/05) Hi Elliot: I've had your 4" Cocobolo set for over a week now and its given me some time to reflect on your innovative staunton style chess set.   Bravo!! I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity of owning one of your very limited creative chess set masterpieces. As you might have expected, I collect staunton style chess sets and I have to tell you that your 4" Cocobolo and Boxwood set is a welcome addition to my collection. I have a lot of wonderful sets, including some great ones from HOS, and your set definetely ranks as one of my favorites.
      Your utilization of Cocobolo wood for the dark pieces is magnificient. Cocobolo's multi-colored vibrant colors and unique grain patterns are a collectors delight.
       The design and style of this set are extremely pleasing. The pieces are heavily weighted coupled with wide bases. I love the thick stemmed Kings, Queens, and Bishops along with the bulky Rooks and hefty Pawns. All of the pieces blend nicely on the chess board and the pieces are expertly proportioned. The mitered Bishops are simply georgeous. And those exquisite hand carved knights presenting an aggressive, almost life-like appearance!
        Thanks again and I look forward with great anticipation to your future UNIQUE STAUNTON CHESS SETS. Sincerely, Mike --- (12/9/05)

(12/7/05) "Hi! Wonderful!! The Men have crossed the Ocean without any fear! And....They are a real Masterpiece. The colour of the Purpleheart is Stunning...and It makes a perfect contrast with the Boxwood. The Knights are magnificentally carved and I like so much the Design ( Is it Yours? ). Thank you for all - the packaging is of course perfect. The Chessmen are all in perfect condition. So... Best Regards e Grazie Mille - Luca" (12/7/05).

Magnificent set! The sandalwood has real character, and the knights are truly fine. Thanks for the second chance offer. --- (4/07/05)

You were correct about this Sandalwood/Boxwood 4" set. It is very nice and they feel great to the touch. I think the Sandalwood is more attractive than the finest Rosewood pieces I have seen. While not having quite as much grain as many Rosewood sets, the richness of the color far out classes the Rosewood sets I have. It rivals the finest Ebony in luster and reflectivness, while presenting a more striking and visually appealing color. Once again, you have gone the extra mile in packing these pieces. Leaving the kings crosses off for shipping is an excellent idea, and I appreciate this attention to detail. Thank you once again - my chess friends will be quite envious. --- (4/06/05)

Your two packages arrived yesterday. I just got everything unpacked and set up to play. I am delighted with the chess men, as well as, the board! The men are much nicer than I anticipated. Their great crafting and style are lovely. And the grain and color of the chosen woods used in the chess board are gorgeous. Together they make a truly handsome invitation to play chess! Many thanks for your clear communication, master packing and love of these sets! ---(4/23/05)

The chess set is doing well. I love I! --- (4/18/05).

The stuff came and it was fine. They are truly sculptures. Your chess products and service are remarkable.---(4/16/05)

Love the set, I used it last night and, although it wasn't quite as lucky for me as the Cavalier, it plays well, I like the feel and look of them tremendously. It's amazing, I've purchased three sets from you, each one is my favorite...is that possible? Hehe. --- (4/14/05)

Hello! The chess set arrived yesterday. It is a beauty set. I greatly appreciate your care in packing for shipment. I am going to enjoy this set. --- (4/12/05)

Greetings! I hope you are doing well. I received all the stuff you sent and I am quite pleased with everything. I especially love the 1920 set I got. You described the board perfectly but I was still amazed how nice it is. Thanks. My son and I played with the other set several times now and the clock is a big hit. --- (4/11/05)

Just a short note to say that I collected the chess set from my local post office this morning. Everything is in order and all the pieces are lovely - very delicate (which I like, being a Frenchman). Thank you again for taking great care in packing them. I just have to find a partner to play my first game with them - which I will greatly enjoy. Kind regards, ---(4/4/05)

The olivewood/rosewood Lardy set arrived today. You certainly do pack these things well. I love the olivewood pieces. I have never seen a wood like this, and it is very beautiful. --- (4/01/05)

By the way, the French set arrived -- LOVE it. Beautiful pieces, nice packaging. The knights are nicely different from what's made today, and the patina on the white pieces is lovely. No damage in shipping.I'll keep an eye on your listings. It's a pleasure to do business with you --- (3/10/05)

Hi Just thought I’d let you know that the set arrived today – it is a very beautiful set - particularly the Rooks and Knights. Thank you. --- (3/23/05)

I received the chess set today and it is outstanding, exactly as you described. Thanks for the careful, fast shipping. (Please feel free to use this as another testimonial). I will leave you very positive feedback tonight. Best wishes --- (3/15/05)

Got the chess pieces...beautiful! Will post positive feedback on Ebay ASAP---(3/17/05)

Received the set this afternoon. To say I'm pleased would be the understatement of the year. The set is absolutely beautiful...I had high hopes for it when I bid, but it's so much more than I had expected. It glows, as only those things do that have lovingly
performed their function for a century now. Thecareful work you've put into the set really shows, the pieces have heft, yet remain perfectly balanced...a true pleasure in a "mini" set such as this one. The finish is silken to the touch...well deserved kudos on all fronts, I greatly appreciate the high level of craftsmanship you've put into it. Please know that it's found a loving home where the set will be treasured and used for decades to come. One other note: In 7 years of active eBaying, I've never received a package as well protected as yours...lol, it took me almost half an hour to penetrate its defenses to liberate the chessmen...thanks again, I'll be watching your other auctions! Best regards ---(12-03-04)

“Thank you so much for the chess set! Because I have weighted sets myself, I can tell just how much time and love you put into this set. It must have taken you a very long time to do this set. Everything is exquisitely done. The felt is meticulously trimmed and rounded. The finish is beautiful, and is my favorite shade of red. And the pieces are so heavy. You must have used a Dremel MotoTool to shape the interior cavity. Even the packing was perfect. I noticed that you even placed some paper between the heads of 2 pawns so that they would not touch during shipping. I am so happy with this set. Thank you for everything”---(11/02/04)

“Received your Jaques in great condition with no shipping damage. Your packing job was excellent and I want to thank you for the time you took to pack my set. It took me about a 1/2 hour to unwrap this beautiful set. I felt like a little boy opening presents on x-mas morning... each unwrapping gave me such a thrill You know its good to feel like a kid sometimes! The set looks much better in person than the pics on ebay. I also want to thank you again for giving me the opportunity to own a piece of Jaques history...such a good feEling. Boy, isn't collecting chess sets so much fun? I'll be in touch and who knows, maybe I'll win another of your fantastic sets on Ebay. Also keep me posted on the custom chess sets you are having made Sincerely, ---- “ (10/30/04)

“Hello, the set arrived today and it looks even better 'in person' than in the photos. A beauty. I left positive feedback for you as well, thanks again. Regards, ---” (11/03/04)

“Received the chess set today and really quite enjoy it. Wonderful set! I'll leave favorable feedback on e-Bay. Thanks again…” --- (11/14/04)

Oh My!!! I'm Breathless. They are absolutely Marvelous! WOW.....WOW!! The Chessmen arrived just now in perfect condition. In fact ...Your packaging was so accurate that you could even send them with a catapult without any problems. I have to thank you very much for everything you have done and I hope to deal with you again. All the Best---(11/17/04)

Hi! The set arrived and it looks great. Terrific packaging job. That set could have been shot out of a rocket and it would still have arrived intact. Thank you so much! ---(11/18/04)

Just wanted to drop you a note saying that I received the chess men. They arrived in fine condition. Thank you for your recommendations, and kind correspondence. It has been a pleasure buying from you, and I can only hope to keep this set in as good a condition for the next 80+ years. It is quite lovely and I am very pleased. Kind regards ----(12/15/04)

I just received and opened the very well packaged pieces. I have already left feedback on e-bay.The set is just what I had hoped for...a near duplicate of the first set that I bought in Boston 30 years ago and surely made by the same manufacturer. Only the crack in the one white pawn and one missing coping atop one of the castles keeps the set from being pristine with that beautiful honey colored patina that comes with age---(12/15/04)