Thursday, May 3, 2012

chess and so forth...


I decided to shake things up a bit this week and went to G-Dub (my local Goodwill store) on Thursday, instead of my usual Friday.  I came home with two books:  Woody Allen on Woody Allen, and Theodore Rex, by Edmund Morris, a vintage Romanian etched glass lidded biscuit jar, and a lovely wooden box of vintage chess pieces.  Everything behind the counter was fifty percent off, so the chess set was $4.99.

After a little poking around online, I found that it's a German Staunton boxwood chess set from about the 1940s or 50s.  It's got a wonderful patina, and the knight is slightly varied from the classic Staunton traditional set.  The Staunton pattern was registered in March of 1849, but chess has been around forever.  They say it originated in India in the sixth century, as a game of military strategy, and since has been Europeanized, and modified over the centuries, to the game we know today.

When I was a little girl, I learned to play on a Medieval style King Arthur set from the late 1950s.  I enjoy chess, but don't have the opportunity to  play as much as I would like.

Speaking of, the sexiest chess game, hands down, would have to be that between Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair, 1968.  Hot checkmate. Very hot.


For those of you who get a thrill from seeing the price tag...
here it is...before the 50% discount...

18 comments:

  1. Sometimes I think you're making this stuff up that you find at the GW. I say that with a big smile, though, because whether you do or not, you spin such a fine post around it. Thanks for reminding me of that movie; I haven't seen it in ages and will download it pronto!

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  2. It's the truth...I actually took a picture of the price...$9.99 before the 50% discount...I'll add the pic...as evidence...giggle...

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  3. I haven't been to the Dub in ages. Would love to see that biscuit jar!
    You know I loved the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair - mostly because of her fabulous clothes, but don't think I've ever seen the original - must remedy that soon.

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  4. Jeanette, the original is so much better! I'll post the biscuit jar next week...

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  5. I marvel at your finesse in getting gems at giveaway prices, Tess! It need not be expensive crystals but simple wood with a history. Great write, Ma'am!

    Hank

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  6. Another pricing "checkmate," Tess. Well done.

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  7. I think I have the exact same set. I used it to teach my children the game. Staunton pieces are the only ones to play with; fancy pieces are SO distracting!

    Are you blackmailing someone behind the counter? You seem to have a suspicious amount of BARGAINS!

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  8. Nice find. They know how to price the good stuff around here. No deals like you've been finding.

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  9. The Goodwill stores down in Southern California were so good that you could find stuff like this often. Hereabouts, the hunting is not quite so lucrative but the thrill is still there.

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  10. Chess. Oh yes. I taught my kids how to play. I beat them all. But when they grew up, they really beat me. I seldom ask them to play nowadays as they don't get here that often and by the time we are done visiting, it is too late for game of chess. I also like checkers.

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  11. Cro...I am an expert at turning on my charm to dicker...but there's no haggling to be had at Goodwill...blackmail either...

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  12. Abe, I love Scrabble...checkers...eh not so much...

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  13. Knight to Queen's Bishop 3. And if that turns you on, I have some others too...

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  14. Every time I read your posts about something you have found at Goodwill, I think that I will be just as lucky. We must have a really awful one here because I hardly ever come home with anything that looks worthwhile. Maybe I need to come and visit you and snoop around a bit!

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  15. My father had a chess set exactly like this ...

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  16. I'll give you a game Tess - although I fear it will have to be via Facebook rather than with that splendid set.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)