Name/Title
Chess SetEntry/Object ID
997.70.14.1-34Description
Hand-carved ivory chess set contained in a black, lacquer box. The chess pieces, while of all basically the same design, seem to have been assembled from at least 4 different chess sets. The differences are mainly in the types of bases, but there are also differences in the sizes of pieces which should be matching. For example all 4 bishops are different from each other.
The different bases are:
Type 1: Solid base with no central post visible. Smooth edge. 3 cm diameter.
Type 2: Central post visible in centre of base. Piece unscrews from base. Smooth edge on base. 2.9 cm diameter.
Type 3: As Type 2, but serrated edge on base.
Type 4: Base is part of the body of the piece. Rooks and Queens only.
In general, the Type 1 pieces are made of better quality ivory. It is shiny and smooth with little visible grain. The Type 2 pieces are generally dull with some pieces having deep, dirty grain and/or eroded areas on the bases.
The white pieces are cream-coloured ivory, while the "black" pieces are red-stained ivory. All pieces are lathe-turned, and except for the pawns, additionally hand-carved. The lathed design of the bodies of Type 1 and Type 2 pieces also differ (pawns only), in that Type 1 bodies have 3 raised knobs (a blade at the top below the top globe, then a central baluster about 1.5 cm long, ending with a small squared-off base. Type 2 bodies have 5 knobs (3 blades of different designs, then a ball, then a squared-off base)
997.70.14.1a - Black lacquered box, 24.7 cm long x 14.3 cm wide x 8.5 cm high. The box is black with dark brown wood-grain streaks throughout. The top of the box is decorated with a double gold frame, 23.1 cm x 12.6 cm within which are 3 chess pieces, none of which are similar to the chess pieces in this set. The box is hinged in the centre, leaving a top lid which is 2.9 cm deep and a bottom which is 4.4 cm deep and which is divided into 4 compartments by wooden and cardboard dividers. Both top and bottom are lined with a white plastic material resembling modern shelf paper, which is glued to the inside surface of the box.
997.70.14.1b - Cardboard box which acts a a compartment in the bottom of the box, 4.3 cm wide x 12.1 cm long x 4.1 cm high.
997.70.14.1c - Wooden compartment divider, covered with white plastic material, 12.1 cm long x 4.5 cm high x 0.5 cm wide.
997.70.14.1d - Wooden compartment divider, as 997.70.14.1c
997.70.14.2 - Chess board, 35.4 cm square. The board is covered both sides with a fine leather, marbled tan on the bottom, and light tan and stained red on the playing surface. The tan and red squares are 3.8 cm square and are separated by rows of tightly-spaced embossed gold dots about 2 mm in diameter. There is a margin of 1.5 cm between the outer square and the edge of the board and running along this margin is a continuous embossed key pattern.
997.70.14.3 - Chess piece (Rook or Castle), about 6.2 cm high, with base 3.2 cm diameter. The white ivory piece has a detached centre "spine" which is screwed into the top of the piece. This piece is 3.1 cm long, including threaded area, leaving the main body of the piece 4.2 cm high. The piece is turned and carved, having 6 top turrets. Note that this rook differs from the other 3 rooks in the set, as it is larger, and the turret design consists of 1 bladed knob 6 cm above the squared bottom knob.
997.70.14.4 - Chess piece (Knight), 5.2 cm high, white turned and and carved ivory, screwed into Type 2 base. The horse's head is 2.5 cm high on top of a turned pedestal 2 cm long. Base diameter is 2.4 cm.
997.70.14.5 - Chess piece (Bishop), about 5.2 cm high, white ivory, turned and carved, screwed into a Type 2 base 3.2 cm in diameter. Note that all 4 bishops in this set are different from each other.
997.70.14.6 - Chess piece (King), about 8 cm high, white ivory, turned and carved, attached to a Type 1 base 3.5 cm in diameter. The crown is finely carved, and in spite of this the piece is in excellent condition.
997.70.14.7 - Chess piece (Queen), about 8 cm high, white ivory, turned and carved, with a Type 4 base (base is part of the body of the piece). The only carving on this piece is the Maltese-type cross at the top.
997.70.14.8 - Chess piece (Bishop), about 4.5 cm high, white ivory, screwed into a Type 2 base. The Bishop's "Mitre" is much thinner in diameter in relation to the rest of the piece. This is the smallest Bishop in the set, all Bishops in this set are different from each other.
997.70.14.9 - Chess piece (Knight), about 5 c high, white ivory, similar to 997.70.14.4. There is a large black "dot" or flaw in the ivory on the bottom of the piece.
997.70.14.10 - Chess piece (Castle or Rook) about 5.4 cm high, white ivory, turned and carved, on a Type 4 base 3 cm in diameter. Like 997.70.14.3, this piece has a detachable central "spine" about 2.6 cm long, including the threaded area, leaving the main body of the piece 3.8 cm high. As previously noted, this piece is a different size and slightly different design from 997.70.14.3, but is the same size and design as 997.70.14.27 and 997.70.14.34.
997.70.14.11 - Chess piece (Pawn), about 4.1 cm high, white ivory, turned only, screwed into a Type 2 base 2.9 cm in diameter.
997.70.14.12 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.11. There is a patch of red material (paper?) glued to the bottom.
997.70.14.13 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.11.
997.70.14.14 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.11
997.70.14.15 - Chess piece (Pawn), about 4.5 cm high, white ivory, turned only, attached to a Type 1 base. The turned design is much different than the Type 2 base pawns.
997.70.14.16 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.15.
997.70.14.17 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.15.
997.70.14.18 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.15.
997.70.14.19 - Chess piece (Pawn), about 4.1 cm high, red ivory, turned only, screwed into a Type 2 base 2.7 cm in diameter. Same turned design as 997.70.14.11.
997.70.14.20 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.19, but the diameter of the base is 2.9 cm.
997.70.14.21 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.20.
997.70.14.22 - Chess piece (Pawn), about 4.5 cm high, red ivory turned only, attached to a Type 1 base. Same turned design as 997.70.14.15.
997.70.14.23 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.22.
997.70.14.24 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.20.
997.70.14.25 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.20.
997.70.14.26 - Chess piece (Pawn), as 997.70.14.22.
997.70.14.27 - Chess piece (Rook or Castle), about 5.4 cm high, red ivory, turned and carved. Design the same as 997.70.14.10.
997.70.14.28 - Chess piece (Knight), about 5 cm high, red ivory, turned and carved. Design the same as 997.70.14.4.
997.70.14.29 - Chess piece (Bishop), about 6.2 cm high, red ivory, turned and carved, attached to a Type 1 base.
997.70.14.30 - Chess piece (Queen) about 8 cm high, red ivory, turned and carved. Same design as 997.70.14.7.
997.70.14.31 - Chess piece (King) about 8 cm high, red ivory, turned and carved. Same design as 997.70.14.6. A small piece has been broken off the edge of the crown, revealing the white ivory below.
997.70.14.32 - Chess piece (Bishop) about 5.4 cm high, red ivory attached to a Type 3 base 2.9 cm in diameter. Turned design is different from all other Bishops in this set.
997.70.14.33 - Chess piece (Knight) as 997.70.14.28.
997.70.14.34 - Chess piece (Rook or Castle), as 997.70.14.27, except that the turned "globe" on the top central spine has been split in half, revealing the white ivory below the red stain.Dimensions
Dimension Notes
See main body description for dimensions of all pieces.Material
ivory, Wood, Cardboard, Lacquer