1 May 2012
13:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge
Chess Sets, Playing Cards and Games
Back to auction 19802
Chess Sets, Playing Cards and Games
Back to auction 19802
An Indian ivory figural chess set,
Rajasthan, circa 1870,
one side with part-green staining, the other side with part-dark brown staining, all the chessmen with gilt and foliate highlights in the Rajasthan manner, kings as elephants with two princes riding in a howdah, queens similar but of smaller size, bishops as camels with riders wearing gilded turbans, knights as horsemen with riders wearing turbans, rooks as elephants with gilt and floral decoration and riders wearing turbans, pawns as bearded foot soliders with spears and circular shields on their back (one pawn original but re-varnished, two pawns replaced),
the king 13.5cm high, the pawn 7.5cm high.
one side with part-green staining, the other side with part-dark brown staining, all the chessmen with gilt and foliate highlights in the Rajasthan manner, kings as elephants with two princes riding in a howdah, queens similar but of smaller size, bishops as camels with riders wearing gilded turbans, knights as horsemen with riders wearing turbans, rooks as elephants with gilt and floral decoration and riders wearing turbans, pawns as bearded foot soliders with spears and circular shields on their back (one pawn original but re-varnished, two pawns replaced),
the king 13.5cm high, the pawn 7.5cm high.
Sold for
£10,000
inc. premium
Footnotes
- A fascinating and scarce nineteenth century example of a Rajasthan figural chess set in lacquered and gilded ivory. Note the individual expressions on the carved faces and the curled toes of the pawns. The kings and queens would have originally had plumes on the heads of the elephants; the floral gilt decoration is typical of Rajasthan. For comparison, see: "Schach Partie Durch Zeiten und Welten", page 183, figure 152.
Category: Collectibles / Toys and Dolls
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