The Battleground of Legends: The Austrian Coffeehouse Set (c. 1880) ☕♟️

Crafted from durable fruitwood with a natural varnish, this late 19th-century Austrian (or Vienna) Coffeehouse set is a true centerpiece of European chess history. Notice the highly stylized, elegant designs of the king and queen pieces with mini-onion dome finale.

Beyond its aesthetic charm, this style of set was the literal battleground for the evolution of modern chess. Its legacy is perfectly captured in the famous photograph from the legendary Carlsbad 1929 tournament, where the event’s ultimate victor, Aron Nimzowitsch, can be seen gathered around these very pieces alongside Viktor Tietz and World Champion Alexander Alekhine. While early World Champions like Emanuel Lasker and Wilhelm Steinitz famously championed this design, seeing it utilized by the masters of 1929 perfectly encapsulates the vibrant, intellectual cafe culture where the hypermodern chess revolution took shape.