*SOLD* Alluminati: Unique ‘Tsarist Style’ Aluminium/Metal Chessmen, Soviet, c.1955

Alluminati (The Learned); 32 vintage chess pieces without board, metal/aluminium, naturally weighted, silver vs. black, artistically restored/aged, Soviet, c.1950-1965

King Height: 8cm, weight 32g, base width 3cm

Queen: 7.5cm, wt. 30g

Bishop: 6.5cm, 30g

Knight: 6.5cm, 30g

Rook: 4.5cm, 35g

Pawns: 3.8cm, 18g

W: Gulag blue felt pads; B: same

 

If you are in the market for a truly unique Soviet metal chess set, look no further. And I use the term ‘truly unique’ with conviction, as each of the pieces (with the exception of the knights) varies ever so slightly, a fact you may not pick up on from the photographs. This is the result of the set being individually hand-turned on a lathe (a rarity with metal sets) in a similar fashion to the wooden chess pieces we are all familiar with. 

 

The Alluminati were at some point painted in an off-white vs black, oil-based colour scheme thoughtlessly burying the intricate cross-hatch pattern on the outer rims of the pieces which really brings the set to life. The distressed paint effect of the black knights (the only pieces that are cast from a mold) has been left in its original vintage/well-handled condition. The remainder of the black army has been colour-matched to the knights, leaving the detail work exposed. The light pieces have been carefully stripped of their white winter-wear and instead sport a very subtle antiqued, custom-coloured, golden-shellac sheen, replicating other Soviet metal sets of this era from my reference collection.

 

As mentioned, these one-of-a-kind, hand-turned pieces vary slightly, as can be seen with the rooks in particular. But if like me, you play through games from books using the old notation this is quite beneficial, as the queen’s rook can be easily be distinguished from the king’s rook. Whether or not this was intentional on the part of the artisan I know not, but it’s a quirk that has come in quite handy over the years, but the time has now come to let them move on – and I sincerely hope that YOU, dear Chess Schach collector, will get as much pleasure from them as me. It’s a great set to play with. But don’t take my word for it – try them out for yourself!

 

Both queens carry the iridescent gold, hand-painted ‘Power’ signature on their bases and the Alluminati are also accompanied by our unique hand-drawn CoA’s (Certificates of Artistry) bearing the sets name and date of purchase.

 

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