 |  |  | 4.1" XTRA FANCY NICARAGUAN COCOBOLO and BOXWOOD STAUNTON CHESS SET- by UNIQUE STAUNTON CHESS SETS-The last Of Only THREE such sets ever to be made in this particular Knight-Size-Wood configuration...
THIS SET IS THE LAST OF MY ORIGINAL 3 SETS OF COCOBOLO MADE WITH THIS UNUSUAL KNIGHT DESIGN..BACK FROM 2002 The set is unflawed and numbered #1 (I had planned to keep this XXX FANCY COCOBOLO set for my personal collection because of the astounding wood figure and color, but have chosen to make room for future inventories. I am therefore making it available to serious players or collectors who love unique chess sets - it seeks a loving home! (NOTE: four Queens included). I am also including a genuine, original HOS, unused, perfectly matched Mahogany attache case that has a small number of minor, tiny scratches or nicks due to simple storage and moving (value over $200). I use a fine wood oil for this lovely mahogany case and these storage imperfections are almost unnoticeable.
Every set I offer is produced in numbers so small that I can say they are the rarest sets you will find anywhere. Here, now, is a SPECIAL treat for those of you looking for one of the rarest chess sets I have ever produced. This is one of the original three I had made in NICARAGUAN Cocobolo, in King size 4.1", base of 1-7/8", and with this unusual drop-head Knight. Please note that prior to my introduction of exotic wood species chess sets in 2003, there were no known chess sets fabricated from COCOBOLO (nor from ANY of my other exotic woods...see my other auctions, keep an eye out for future auctions and look in my EBAY store and future WEBstore); these unusual sets remain unique to Unique Staunton Chess Sets and set them apart from all others.
My idea in 2001 was 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.
DID YOU KNOW THAT ONLY 5 WOODS ARE TYPICALLY USED IN 99.99% OF ALL CHESS SETS EVER MADE?
It's true! My experience with the 5 common woods usually used for chess sets (SEE BELOW), and my later research, led me to the following conclusions: and African Black 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 perhaps the best 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 the usual Rosewood you see is a rather common Indian Rosewood...it can often be boring with muted colors or figure; Red Sandalwood - often miss-named "Budrosewood" (to allow for illegal exportation from its country of origin, India), 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 are types of Rosewoods found in India. Dark Sheesham is a finer quality wood and is often used for nice boxes (or the cheaper "rosewood-like" chess sets). The light Sheesham is advertised as "Golden Rosewood" and can also be used for nice chess boxes. However, often you will see lower end chess men made of "Golden Rosewood" when in fact it is simply light Sheeshamwood; 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.
I believed and hoped that 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 chess player, collector of chess sets and a lover of exotic and rare woods, I saw the value in such a chess set and hoped others would also (chess players, chess collectors, chess aficionados, wood workers, someone looking for a rare gift for a friend or loved-one, art collectors those who enjoy sculptured woods). 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 (a typical batch was a 50 lb. box of wood holding 25 blocks). The result are chess sets no one has ever seen (these exotic woods are truly rare, very expensive, and particularly sourced from only already-downed trees so as not to infringe on the deforestation and denudation around the world, or from existing, non-endangered forests). This auction is for one such chess set...
DETAILS OF A THIS TRUE COLLECTOR'S SET
THE WOOD - NICARAGUAN COCOBOLO
The dark pieces of your custom chess set are made from NICARAGUAN OCOBOLO (botanical name Dalbergia Retusa of the family Leguminosae) . This particular COCOBOLO has a unique linear grain with copious swirls and takes on many colors. Cocobolo is the hardest and densest Rosewood in the world. It has a specific gravity of .98 and is one of the few woods in the world so dense that it sinks in water. This lovely hardwood comes from the Pacific regions of Central America extending from Panama to southwestern Mexico. The medium-sized tree grows to 60 feet tall with trunk diameters of up to 2 feet. This rare, very expensive, hard, heavy wood has a natural oiliness that makes it excellent for use around water. It is of very fine and uniform grain and usually exhibits variegated streaks of dark brown, black, rich red, orange and yellow. Because of its hardness, COCOBOLO takes a superb polish and is the favored wood for the cutlery trade, knife handles, inlay work, brush backs, musical and scientific instruments, jewelry boxes and other specialty items. This is one of my absolute favorite woods in the world and it will be yours too when you see this chess set in person. In particular, this set was chosen as #1 out of the only three ever to be made with this rare Knight because of the XXX Fancy NICARAGUAN Cocobolo wood used. Any other set you own will likely look quite boring beside it! (Unless you own one of my Bokote sets!)
THE CHESSMEN
I think the original Staunton styles of the 1800's are the most lovely ever created, and these include the 19th century beauties by John Jaques of London and The British Chess Company (BCC). This set is numbered #1, and is the last of only THREE so configured in this size, in Cocobolo wood, with the rare Knight you see before you). This particular set had a personally-chosen grouping of XXX-fancy figured and colored Cocobolo, as you can see from the many pictures.
This heavily-weighted set (approx 5+ lbs) boasts a 4.1" King. At the bases we applied the finest green wool baize felt cloth. One the King-side Rooks and Knights is a red King crown stamp, and at the base of each King are the words "UNIQUE STAUNTON". With the chess set are included important "Wood Information" cards describing the woods of this set and how to easily maintain them. The set is one of only three ever to be made in this configuration. YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE AN INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED, HEAVILY LAMINATED "CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY" WITH YOUR PURCHASE (NOTE: SOME PICS WERE TAKEN WITH A FLASH TO SHOW HOW THE COLORS "EXPLODE" IN STRONG LIGHT).
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 APPRECIATE significantly over the coming years.
DETAILS
- BE SURE TO scroll down to see ALL THE PICS BELOW!!
- 4.1" King, base 1.875"(1-7/8")
- Two Queens of each color
- This is THE LAST OF MY ORIGINAL THREE SUCH SETS in NICARAGUAN Cocobolo - this one in a special XXX Fancy figured Cocoblo of my personal choosing
- The set comes with an original, finely made House of Staunton mahogany attache case (value over $200) perfectly sized for this set (it has a few scuff marks but they can be oiled out easily)
- The set and attache case are extremely valuable and very heavy (total almost 15 lbs). Insurance is required.
- PERFECT FOR BOARD SIZES OF 2"TO 2.5"
- Brand New, pristine, unused
- I accept PAYPAL
- Successful bidder agrees to pay shipping cost which is approximately $25 (+ $10 ins.) in the continental US but this will be higher outside of the US. If outside US, import duties may apply and will be paid by the winning bidder of auction. Please check these costs BEFORE you bid...thank you.
- 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.
- Winning bidder: payment is due withing 3 days of the end of auction
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HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE MANY TESTIMONIALS FROM SATISFIED AUCTION WINNERS OF MY CHESS SETS
- (3/7/2009) - Got the set in! It`s a masterwork......beautiful Knight carving, better than House of Staunton top end set. The wood has a lot of highlights and tones that the pictures didn’t quite capture. So I would say I am well pleased! You are a boon to the game of chess!
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(11/11/08) Elliot, I received the Cocobolo set today. To say it is fantastic is to understate how I feel about it. I've been playing since 1956 and I've got about a dozen chess sets in my small collection. Two are original Jacques. A Fischer-Spassky purchased around 1979 and a used set found by a dealer in London. (I have no idea which model it is.) Also I've got a House of Staunton Marshall (ebonized) and a proto-type HOS 4" Professional (ebony) and an old Craftsman purchased from "Chess Review" in the early 1960s. Your set is easily the equal or better than the other five.
(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)
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