*SOLD* Double Czech (Sachorium Duplici); Vintage Czechoslovakian “FIDET Co.” Coffee House Chess Set, c.1945-1960

Sachorium Duplici (Double Czech); 32 vintage chess pieces without board, maple wood, natural vs. black, Czechoslovakia, weighted, c.1950

Dimensions:

King Height; 9.5cm or 3 3/4”, weight 25g, base width 32mm or 1 1/4”.

Queen; 9cm, wt. 22g

Bishop 7cm, 18g

Knight 6cm, 11g

Rook 4.8cm, 16g

Pawn 5cm, 13g

W: Burgundy red felt pads; B: same

 

Double Czech carries a steadfast, traditional Coffee House pattern in the Viennese style that dates back to the nineteenth century. These distinct Czechoslovakian chessmen first appeared in the smoke-laden, gentleman’s gaming rooms such as the Cafe Slavia and the Cafe Union of the old Habsburg Empire back in the late 1880s and have close and obvious links to the better-known ‘Ceska Klubovka’ patterns (see our Archive Gallery for examples) their brothers-in-arms, one might say.

 

An earlier version of this set (c.1920) can be seen on the late Nicholas Lanier’s chess museum website “Check or Czech?” There are a few alterations (king’s crown accented in opposing colours, rook’s crenels in opposing colours) that are my own and are meticulously matched to the original patina. One of the black domes of the white bishops is also a replacement, matched identically to the original. Weight has also been added and burgundy felt replaces the original thin red paper covering of the bases.

 

Both QUEENS carry the hand-painted iridescent gold ‘Power’ signature of the artist on their bases. Double Czech also comes with our unique hand-drawn ‘Certificate of Artistry’ which will be posted separately to avoid creases.