Chess Sets
Martin McIlory, Head of the Works of Art Department, discusses the evolution of
chess sets and the various patterns commonly found from various parts of the World.
A Staunton pattern chess set (FS10/484) in the usual boxwood and ebony.
The game of chess is believed to have originated in North East India around 2500
BC and spread via the trade routes to China, Russia, the Middle East and finally
reaching Europe in the 9th century. With numerous rule changes over the following
centuries, the final game of chess or International Chess as we know it
appeared in the mid-19th century, and the first modern chess tournament was organised
by Howard Staunton and held in London in 1851, needless to say it was won
by a German without the need for penalties.
The market for chess pieces has boomed over the past forty years or so and it is
the various patterns from around the world which makes these sets so interesting.
An Indian chess set (FS16/606) with all pieces in the form of elephants one side
with stained black bases.
A Staunton pattern chess set (FS11/531) in natural and stained red ivory.
A Vizagapatum chess set (FS18/725).
With the games origins in India, Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood have sold several
Indian chess sets. The first was a Vizagapatum set made from ivory where
one side was stained brown the other side left in its natural ivory colour. The
second set was more interesting in the fact that the pawns of the opposing sides
were British Infantrymen and Sepoys reflecting the period of the Indian Mutiny.
Another set consisted purely of various sized elephants as playing pieces with the
only difference between the two sides was the staining of the bases to one side.
Many of the Chinese chess sets were destined for the European market and were produced
in Canton. Carved from ivory, they were normally stained red to one side and left
natural ivory colour to the other. The most important pattern was the Mandarin
pattern with the pieces dressed in court robes. Sometimes the figures were mounted
on puzzleball stands.
An Indian Sepoy versus British ivory chess set (FS14/789).
A Cantonese ivory Mandarin pattern chess set (FS15/661).
A Cantonese ivory Mandarin pattern chess set on puzzle ball stands (FS16/560).
Two of the most popular patterns in Europe are the Barleycorn pattern and
best known of all the Staunton pattern. The Staunton pattern set is used
for tournament competitions and comes in various sizes. Usually made from boxwood
and ebony, but occasionally in ivory, they have weighted bases. The best quality
sets are normally by Jaques. The early sets came in pressed paper or carton-pierre
boxes whilst later sets came in mahogany boxes with paper labels.
The Barleycorn set is an austere looking set, usually with ring-turned decoration
and was popular in both the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. Better quality sets
from all around the world are normally included in our
Fine Art Sales
held every quarter.
A barleycorn pattern ivory chess set (FS15/661).
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About the Author
 | Martin McIlroy
Collectables and Toys
Silver
Works of Art and ClocksMartin McIlroy is the Head of the Works of Art and Silver Departments at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood.
Martin McIlroy was educated at Exeter School in Devon and took a gap year before continuing his education at Teacher Training College. He subsequently worked at The Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) in Exeter, cataloguing reserve collections before spending seven years working for a local auction room gaining further experience.
He joined the internationally renowned auction house Philips in 1982, where he catalogued sales in Exeter, Cornwall and London for sixteen years. He then joined Bearne's in 2000 to catalogue silver and works of art and subsequently became Head of these departments.
His favourite subject is bronze sculpture, church silver, toys and collectables.
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Chess Sets was written on Monday, 16th February 2015.