Tolkien Chess

It was actually quite hard to put together a comprehensive list of Tolkien chess sets, a lot of them are referred to by sculpture, manufacturer, distributors/stockists (often multiple) and the same set can have different versions.

Mike Makras

70/80s

These are very, very rare as all figures are handmade.

Rooks: Hobbit Hole, Treebeard, Orthnic (sic), Gollum
Kn: Frodo, Smaug (sic), it's Bilbo in photo, Balrog, Smaug
B: Gandalf, Elrond, Nazgul, Great Goblin
Q: Galadriel, Shelob
K: Aragorn, Saruman
P:Kili, Fili, Dori, Oin, Ori, Dwalin, Thorin, Bilbo (pawn scale), Goblins (mixed), Orcs (mixed)

   

    

Kingmaker

Tolkien Enterprises (1979)

The Tolkien Collectors Guide has some pictures

Unknown Producer

1970s?

Fellowship Foundry

Designed by artist Kevin O'har.

Hobbit

1978

    

Fellowship vs Dark Forces

1980

Mascott

This specially commissioned theme chess set by the acclaimed English sculptor Dennis Fairweather really brings to life some of the amazing characters from the Tolkien classic. Each side has been sculpted separately resulting in 18 different models within the same Lord of the Rings chess piece set!

This shop has a few details.

Hand Painted Large

6.75”

Plain Large

6.75”

    

    

    

        

Plain Small

3.125”

    

Royal Selangor

I believe all of these were designed by Graham Anthony, who now sells them himself (see his Blog page for more details).

http://uk.royalselangor.com/collections/the-lord-of-the-rings/war-of-the-ring-chess-set-the-lord-of-the-rings.html?___store=uk

Lord of the Rings (also sold as War of the Ring)

SWS131 - no longer in production

The first edition of this set, made back in the late seventies, had only 50 sets in the edition and changes hand for around aus$9000 (2017).

Details from Graeme Anthony site: Solid pewter Lord of the Rings chess set. Dimensions:  2.5"- 5" tall (pieces).This set was designed and created by Graeme Anthony and yes It is supposed to have 7 orc pawns and 1 gollom pawn on the dark side.The configuration of this set was worked out back in 1973 and the characters chosen were taken from all of Tolkiens books , hence it was called "The War of the Rings" and not "The Lord of the Rings".The reason I used Ents and Smaug as the Knights was because if you study the make up of chess sets before Lord Staunton standardized them you will notice that very early sets had Horses and Elephants and other animals as knights.I just followed suite.

Black pieces are. orc( pawn),Mordor( Castle), Smaug (knight), Saruman(bishop) , Shelob(queen), Sauron (king).

White pieces are. Hobbit (pawn),city of Tirion(rook), Ent (Knight). Gandalf(bishop). Galadriel (queen) Strider(king). Height 7cm to 13cm.

Battle of Middle Earth

https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/wiwimod/index.php?page=RS_Battle_Chessboard

Figures and board sold individually not as one set.

There are only 13 different pieces in the set, the bishops, rooks and knights are duplicated on each side.

There is an additional black pawn Gollum figure which is also part of the set.

    

                                                

Shot Glasses

https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/wiwimod/index.php?page=RS_Shot_Chess

The pieces are character shot glasses from the Lord of the Rings. The good guys versus the bad guys and yes there are 7 orcs and Gollum as pawns on the bad or dark side.

This set is very expensive aus$1650 (2017).

Miniature Goblets

These were smaller than the full sized manufactures full sized Goblets.

https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/wiwimod/index.php?page=RS_Goblet_Chess

Goblins and Elves/The Hobbit

Polished pewter and bronze chess pieces. Height of Kings 12cm and pawns are 6cm aus$985 (2017).

Goblins and Elves/The Hobbit (also sold under the Dal Rossi Italy brand) - not officially released under The Hobbit title.

    

    

    

Gordon Lee

Chessboard only (no figures)

Studio Anne Carlton

Based on the Jackson Movies

http://www.chess-sets.info/lord-of-the-rings-chess-set/

Reviews

http://www.regencychess.co.uk/blog/2012/09/lord-of-the-rings-chess-set-review/

Eaglemoss

Based on the Jackson movies.

These sets were published one piece at a time with a magazine.

Here is a video https://youtu.be/OOQv25Vqh9s

Series 1

single figure magazine

    
double figure magazine
    

Series 2

Series 3

Movies

These are low quality mass market.

I've only found 1 vague reference to this Hobbit Movie set so I'm not sure if it actually exists.

Noble

Collectable

2002

https://www.noblecollection.com/Item--i-CSS-LR-2990

Two Towers Character Pack

Sold separately.

Return of the King Character Pack

Sold separately.

Movie Trilogy

2019

Based on the Jackson movies.

     

     

Tudor Mint

2003

Danbury Mint

1993

Flyer

Franklin Mint

This is a limited edition set

Planeta DeAgostini

Vintage 32-piece collectors set from the prestigious Planeta DeAgostini company. The collection includes detailed chromed resin pieces based on the characters of the famous Tolkien's trilogy - The Lord of the Rings. The chess game is based on the Last Battle, where hobbits, elfs, and humans confront orcs, uruks and all the forces of the Dark Lord.

Bill Girard Lord of the Rings

http://sitekreator.com/gsmichaels/girard-s-lord-of-the-rings.html?page_36664269=1