Description
Austrian Coffeehouse Reproduction Chessmen.
Offered here is a set of Austrian Coffeehouse Reproduction Chessmen. The King stands 4″ tall with a 1-5/8″ diameter base. The chessmen are crafted from Natural and Black Lacquered Boxwood, exactly like the originals. The set is also available in Red and Ivory lacquered Boxwood. The chess pieces are heavily weighted and cushioned on a pad of green baize. The Kings sit atop Gold-embossed Black English leather discs. With their elegant Knights, unique capped-Bishop and sturdy pieces, these accurately crafted chessmen are technically classified as a modified-Staunton design. The chessmen play and display best on a chessboard with 2-3/8″ squares. The Austrian Coffeehouse Reproduction Chessmen are part of the Camaratta Signature Series. The chessmen are new. The antique chessboard and Tanner “Reliable” Timer shown are not included but can be be purchased elsewhere on this site.
A Bit of History.
These late Victorian Austrian coffeehouse chess sets, also known as Old Vienna or Viennese Coffeehouse chess sets, have an elegant charm and had a ubiquitous presence through parts of Europe extending into the 20th Century.
This design was certainly influenced by Staunton pattern. The chessmen are very durable with few, if any, weak areas in the design which could be broken during spirited handling. Due to their broad bases, the chessmen are quite stable and, as a result, these sets are quite playable and have a pleasant board presence.
These chessmen became the standard fare in Central Europe – the lands of the Austrian monarchy, as well as Germany, Switzerland, and Northern Italy. Major tournaments like Vienna 1898, Semmering 1927 and Karlsbad 1929 were played using the Austrian Coffeehouse design chessmen. The popularity of these sets seemed to have waned after World War II but are still seen today in some European venues.
Viennese Coffeehouse chess sets were originally produced in sizes from 2″ to well over a 5″ King. Although they had baize base pads, they were normally not weighted. We have corrected that minor deficiency by cushioning our precise recreations atop plush green English Baize base pads.
