Turned Chessmen: For Collectors, Players and Woodworkers (Mike Darlow's Woodturning series) [Paperback]

Mike Darlow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005 | Series: Mike Darlow's Woodturning series (Book 5)

Woodworkers, chess set collectors, and history buffs will enjoy this comprehensive guide to the manufacture and design of wooden chessmen. Readers will learn the origin and meaning of the symbols used to signify the six chess pieces, including insight into the king's crown, the knight's horse head, and the battlements atop the rook. Details are also provided on how the design of individual pieces communicates membership in specific chess sets, and a series of photographs demonstrates six sets made by some of today's chess-making masters. Detailed drawings offer guidance on designing chess sets, and an extensive section on woodturning techniques, including step-by-step diagrams and color pictures, will explain the process of creating chessmen for interested woodworkers and woodturners.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mike Darlow is a commercial woodturner whose work is exhibited internationally. He is the author of The Fundamentals of Woodturning, The Practice of Woodturning, Woodturning Methods, and Woodturning Techniques.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565232593
• ISBN-13: 978-1565232594
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,011,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Appreciation By Robert E. Stoller, August 3, 2005

By 

Robert E. Stoller (Anchorage, AK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Turned Chessmen: For Collectors, Players and Woodworkers (Mike Darlow's Woodturning series) (Paperback)

Professional Woodturner Mike Darlow is a self-publisher in rural Australia who describes himself as "a poor and only occasional chess player". Nevertheless, he has found a personal passion and rich outlet for self-expression in turning and designing chessmen. His objective in writing Turned Chessmen was to promote an understanding of the design of chessmen, both to give more pleasure when players use them, to make players more discerning when they buy them, and to encourage new designs which can be played with.

In my opinion as a chess player and modest collector of sets, Mr. Darlow has succeeded magnificently in achieving his objectives. Turned Chessmen is a combination of history, anecdotal detail, aesthetic and philosophical guide, and a thoroughly - documented how-to-do-it manual.

The book is extensively illustrated - - containing more than 260 photographs, diagrams and drawings. Its opening chapter is a 56 - page recounting of the History of Chessmen, with more than 60 images of chessmen spanning more than a 1000 years from an Ivory King circa. 8th - 10th century up to several 20th century examples. Perhaps the most significant "find" is the extremely rare set of "Improved Geometrical and Universal Chess-Men" designed in 1864 by the American architect Frederick S. Copley, which became the inspiration for several wallet-sized flat-folding portable sets.

The next successive chapters are

* a Gallery showing sets recently made by six

contemporary woodturners (including Darlow himself);

* a 15-page compendium containing 35 illustrations of

piece symbols;

* a 30-page discussion of the essential considerations

and elements involved in designing chess sets;

* a collection of drawings for 10 different styles of

chess sets, available for copying or inspiration;

* a 35-page manual for making chessmen, illustrated with

94 photographs of actual tool-work on the lathe; and

* a brief concluding chapter on crafting boards, boxes

and tables.

Finally, Mr. Darlow has assembled an extensive bibliography of books on chessmen and on the history of chess.

In short, Turned Chessman is an enjoyable read and a highly valuable resource of anyone who has any interest at all in chessmen as a form of participatory sculpture.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, March 3, 2005

By 

Eugene D. Radice (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Turned Chessmen: For Collectors, Players and Woodworkers (Mike Darlow's Woodturning series) (Paperback)

A really outstanding book for anyone interested in chess sets - history and collecting as well as making your own modern sets. Also, woodturners/woodworkers would be very interested in this book written by an accomplished woodworker who has published in this field before. The writing is high quality as are the illustrations and photos.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chess? make and play, August 25, 2005

By 

Robert Battini (Western Europe France) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Turned Chessmen: For Collectors, Players and Woodworkers (Mike Darlow's Woodturning series) (Paperback)

If you like chess sets, if you like wood turning, you may not miss this book