While it is common to see Simpsons' Chess Sets, featuring Homer as the King, and Franklin Mint Civil War chess sets, where historical figures are personified in the pieces, alternate influences on traditional chess pieces have been less common.
A few times I have run into more detailed, handcrafted sets featuring Alice in Wonderland characters, or Chinese Emperors (with Confucius as the King).
However, on a more creative note, a plethora of ideas of this nature can be found at www.edgewatergifts.com, where the chessmen are designed in themes such as freshwater vs. saltwater fish, High Noon cowboys, and outer space, just to name a few.
One of my favorites is, the hockey theme, as pictured here, where the characters are as follows:
Pawns - Pucks
Rooks - Hockey Nets
Knights - Referees
Bishops - Players
Queens - Hockey Moms
Kings - Goalies
Personally, I think the Knights and Bishop characters should be reversed, but that's another issue.
Themed Chess Sets
Hockey, Fishing, Cowboys & More
Trend Themes
1. Themed Chess Sets - The trend of creating themed chess sets based on specific industries or hobbies encourages innovative thinking in product design and manufacturing.
2. Personalized Collectibles - The trend towards more personalized and unique collectible items such as themed chess sets opens up opportunities for entrepreneurs in the manufacturing and customization industries.
3. Cross-industry Collaborations - Themed chess sets that combine elements from different industries, like the hockey-themed set, could inspire collaborations and partnerships between companies from different fields.
Industry Implications
1. Toy and Game Industry - The toy and game industry can utilize the trend of themed chess sets to develop new and exciting products that target niche markets and interests.
2. Sports Industry - The sports industry can explore the use of themed chess sets to create branding opportunities and merchandise for fans, such as the hockey-themed set mentioned in the article.
3. Customization and Manufacturing Industry - The customization and manufacturing industry has the potential to benefit from the personalization trend of themed chess sets by offering one-of-a-kind items that cater to consumers' unique preferences and interests.