Matryoshka set

Matryoshka (or babushka) chess sets pop up on eBay regularly, with prices varying widely. I always liked the look of them, and wanted to add one to the collection, so waited until one was listed for a price I was willing to pay.

This particular set was new, and came with a carved red/white wooden board, with the pieces neatly stored inside.

Pieces are nicely made and painted; I think the knights are done with a bit of humour.

I felt it would be fitting to designate this set as one for a historical variant played in Russia until the 19th century. In this particular 'Russian chess', the queen is an 'amazon', a piece which combines the moves of a queen with that of a knight.