Marigo Design

There isn't too much information about the Marigo company. In the latest 1990s it was having some financial issues.

It was possibly renamed PROSERTRANS S.A. and there were bankruptcy news on 1996.

Finally the games multinational company Cartamundi adquired the brand and the company on 2012.

So, the brand Marigo is still in the market but the products are all kind of board and card games and they have simplified a lot the chess line.

Only some low quality plastic chess products remain, aimed for children and being sold in retail stores.

There is no wood or quality chess products in their catalogue.

It seems that life forgets the losers, so I wasn't able to find any information about the old company.

Although there are some products of this company in the second hand market.

My opinion is that the brand took advantage somewhere in the 60s or 70s of the popularity of these sets and they started making a model to use in chess clubs and competitions.

We have to consider that during this period, these sets where very affordable and sturdy.

As soon as the plastic and the chinesse production on one side and the DGT tecnology on the other appeared they misplaced these sets, making these lines to dissapear.

Also, the market oriented to collectors or people playing at home decreased by computers and it simply wasn't enough to keep this market alive.

Also, Marigo was not only a chess manufacturer, they were doing all kind of game products, so for them this was not the core product and possibly they were overrun by Indajesa or other brands.

By their old product catalogue it is possible that they could have subcontracted the production to another handcrafting company.

Anyway the marigo design is very interesting itself, unique and have its own personality.

There are still some chess clubs with history that have these pieces and use them in their tournaments.

The Marigo set in the 2015 "Activa" league in Alcobendas Chess club

Bought in 2016 on second hand market. It is made on 60s/70s. Possibly 70s.

Boxwood and ebonized boxwood, not weighted.

This set has a king of 100mm-38mm and a pawn of 55mm-29mm. It suits best in 55mm chessboards.