Old Windsor Castle Chess Set

The Historical Chess Set Series

#15 - Old Windsor Castle Chess Set

We know very little about this rare set of chess pieces. In the 1820s, I. Parker, a wood turner from Eton and titled Turner to Her Majesty the Queen, crafted this souvenir set of chessmen in the St. George Design using the old oak from St. George Chapel at Windsor Castle, which was under restoration. The inspiration for this chess set came from Williams’ book. I later found a manufacturer had created a limited reproduction set, but this set doesn’t enjoy a wide distribution otherwise.

St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle suffered a great deal of destruction during the English Civil War. When King George IV came to the throne in 1820, he intended to restore the damage to Windsor Castle and create a set of royal palaces that reflected his wealth and influence as the ruler of Britain. King George IV persuaded Parliament to approve funds to restore the castle, and work commenced in 1824. The restoration was unfinished at the time of King George IV’s death in 1830 but primarily completed in 1840. 

NOTES:

These are not the Windsor Castle chessmen, famous throughout the 1950s and 1960s and used by the American Grandmaster Bobby Fischer when he won the 1958 United States Chess Championship. Although named similarly, these chessmen predate the set used by Fischer by over a century.

Size (height/base): 

With a king height of 104.9 mm when printed as modeled, this set is slightly smaller than a Staunton Scale 8 (St. <8) set. 

• ♔ King: 104.9 mm / 37.9 mm
• ♕ Queen: 91.7 mm / 35.2 mm
• ♗ Bishop: 79.2 mm / 32.5 mm
• ♘ Knight: 78.2 mm / 30.8 mm
• ♖ Rook: 71.3 mm / 35.8 mm
• ♙ Pawn: 54.8 mm / 31.9 mm

The recommended chessboard for this set will have squares 49 mm - 52 mm on each side.

Scaling:

To resize this set to one of the following standard sizes, scale the model by the factor given before printing.

• FIDE Size 1 - St. 5 (King 87 mm): 0.83 (83%)
• FIDE / UCSF Tournament - St. 6 (King 94 mm):  0.90 (90%)
• Club Size - St. 9 (King 112 mm): 1.07 (107%)

FFM Printing:

I design my chess set models for printing with an SLA (resin) printer. Most models have undercuts and surfaces that present challenges when printing with filament on an FFM printer. These features will require the generation of a non-trivial amount of support material. If you are skilled at removing the support material and the interfaces between the supports and the model, print the models as they are.

An alternative method I often use is to split the model into two halves and print with the split surface on the hot plate. This method is especially effective when the model is symmetrical. Glue the two halves together to form the chess piece. Filling and sanding the resulting seam is much easier than removing and sanding support interfaces. You will find split model files in the FFM Friendly folder. 

Note that some pieces have a left and right model file. You must print and glue the left and right models to form the chess piece. Otherwise, print two copies of the model and glue them together.

Finally, the Print Files section contains pre-sliced FFM-friendly files with several prints that comprise a complete set of model halves. Print the specified number of copies and glue the pieces together to create an entire chess set.

REFERENCES:

Williams, Gareth. 2000. Master Pieces: The Architecture of Chess. New York: Viking Studio. pp. 50–51.

ABOUT THE HISTORICAL CHESS SET SERIES:

Introducing a remarkable resource for chess lovers and history buffs – a collection of historical chess set printable models from around the world! Immerse yourself in the game's rich cultural history with designs ranging from the ancient world to modern times. Each set is a testament to the artistry and craftsmanship of its era that showcases the evolution of chess throughout the centuries, providing a stunning visual representation of the game's journey that will impress any chess enthusiast. Whether you're a seasoned player or a history buff, this collection has something to offer everyone. Join us on a journey through time and discover the beauty and intricacy of chess through these historical sets, which will captivate, inspire, and invite you to engage with the game in a whole new way.

CHESS SETS IN THIS SERIES:

1. Man Ray 1945 Prototype Wood Chess Set - March 13, 2023
   1945 Wood Chess Set prototype design by Man Ray, as illustrated in the book "Imagery of Chess, Revisited".
2. Austrian Biedermeier Coffeehouse Chess Set - March 19, 2023
   An Austrian chess set in the Biedermeier Coffeehouse style made around the Biedermeier period between 1815 and 1850.
3. French Directoire Chess Set - March 26, 2023
   A classic French chess set design, also called the French Revolutionary chess set, from the Directoire period 1795-1799.
4. English Rowbotham Chess Set - March 26, 2023
   A stylized chess set commissioned by the Reverend Rowbotham from John Jaques of London and designed by Nathaniel Cook.
5. Soviet-Era Russian Poni Minimalist Chess Set - March 31, 2023
   Russian chess set designed in the 1920s by Alexey Poni, a classic example of minimalistic style and functional design.
6. French Dierdot Chess Set - April 8, 2023
   French chess set also known as the Encyclopédie Chess Set, an artifact of the 18th-century French Enlightenment period.
7. Leonardo Da Vinci's Chess Set - April 14, 2023
   Leonardo Da Vinci's chess set design found in De Ludo Scachorum, written by Luca Pacioli, a Renaissance mathematician.
8. Duetsche Bundesform Chess Set - April 21, 2023
   Deutsche Bundesform (German Federation Form) chess pieces used exclusively at the Munich Chess Olympiad in 1936.
9. Czechoslovakian Coffeehouse Chess Set - April 28, 2023
   A vintage coffeehouse style chess set similar to those made in Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic) ca. 1950. 
10. Romanian Bundesform Chess Set - May 7, 2023
    Chess set originating in Romania in the early 20th century exhibiting the German Bundesform style of chess pieces.
11. Polish Coffeehouse Chess Set - May 15, 2023
    A rare Polish coffeehouse design heavily influenced by Austrian aesthetics and the popular Regence style of 18th Century France.
12. Budapest/Hungarian Chess Set - May 19, 2023
    This is a unique and elegant Staunton-inspired chess set made in Hungary ca. 1920's-1930's with a rare Knight shape.
13. Bulgarian Chess Set - May 26, 2023
    A beautiful Bulgarian design chess set inspired by a handmade set made in Bulgaria/Eastern Europe ca. 1950s–1960s. 
14. Soviet-era Latvian Chess Set - June 2, 2023
    Chess set similar to the one seen in the final game between Beth and Vasily in the Netflix Series, "The Queen's Gambit".
15. Old Windsor Castle Chess Set - June 9, 2023
    Rare souvenir set of chessmen made using the old oak from the St. George Chapel at Windsor Castle during the 1820s.
16. German Bohemia Chess Set - June 16, 2023
    German Bohemia chess set with "chicken-head" Knight made circa 1970s and designed for the 1970 Siegen Chess Olympiad.

Look for future weekly releases, including rare and beautiful Yugoslavian, and Romanian chess sets. Send me a message if you have a particular chess set design that you would like to see as a 3D model. I am always open to new ideas. Although I have steered clear of the Staunton design, I am considering adding the more popular formats, like the 1959 Zagreb and the 1950 Dubrovnik sets. Let me know if you are interested in adding Staunton sets.

FAIR AND COMMERCIAL USE:

The models in the Historical Chess Set Series allow others to enjoy playing the game of chess with something other than standard Staunton chess pieces (see license below). These models are licensed for an individual's personal use. Individuals may print sets to give away, providing parties have no other value exchange. Any commercial printing or distribution is strictly prohibited. Please don't make me wake up my lawyer; she's grumpy when she doesn't get her beauty sleep, and you will suffer the consequences. 

DISCLAIMER:

Please be advised that there is no intention that the models and representations provided herein are exact reproductions of their original counterparts. Instead, they should be regarded as artistic interpretations, reflecting the creativity and vision of the artisan.

The artisan has made every effort to ensure the accuracy and fidelity of these models. It is essential to recognize that they may contain variations, deviations, or artistic liberties the artisan took to enhance their aesthetic appeal or convey a particular message.

As such, we encourage users to appreciate these models for their artistic value and creative expression while acknowledging that they may not be precise replicas of the original subjects. Please enjoy these works with an open mind and a discerning eye, understanding that they represent a unique blend of historical inspiration and artistic interpretation.