*SOLD* Veteranis Pupae (The Old Boys); Classic Soviet ‘Artel Vseko’ Chess Set, c.1930-1940
The Old Boys (Veteranis Pupae); 32 lightly-weighted chess pieces, wooden, natural wood vs deep brown, Soviet (Artel Vsekokhudozhnik), artistically restored, c.1935
Height: King 8.5cm, weight 15g, base width 3.2cm; Queen 7.7cm wt. 13g, Bishop 7cm 11g, Knight 7cm 13g, Rook 5.2cm 15g, Pawns 5.5cm 9g.
W: Lush Prussian Blue felt pads; B: same
This is the third ‘Vseko’ set to come out of the CS Studios and is one of my most favourite patterns of the Soviet Era to bring back into circulation. The set is complete and original, but came to me with six severely damaged bases (white knights and bishops, one black bishop and king), which have been restored and matched to the original pieces during the artistic restoration process. Small ball finials have also been added to the bishops, providing greater clarity between them and the similar egg-shaped finials of the pawns. An antiqued red colour was chosen for the finials of the clerics and royals, as opposed to the traditional reversed colours as the contrast just felt right for this particular project.
The unique, characterful knights that the U.S. collector, Chuck Grau of sovietchesssets.com enthusiastically describes as “outstanding,” are unlike any other examples I’ve come across in early Soviet Era chess sets. In this respect, this rare and unusual Stalin Era pattern stands alone.
The aged wood finish has been kept relatively simple using a combination of antiquing oils and numerous coloured waxes, lending the pieces a rugged and organic feel about them – much like the battle-ready, square-jawed knights, which are chomping at the bit to enter the fray! Weight has also been added to these traditionally unweighted pieces making them even more enjoyable for you to play with over the board.
Both kings carry the NEW hand-painted 2023 IRIDESCENT PEARL ‘Power’ signature of the artist on their bases and are accompanied by our unique ‘Certificates of Artistry’ which are posted out separately, once we tally up how many pearl signature sets passed through our galleries in 2023.
“All good things…” as the old saying goes.
Ref Code: VP23
