tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91846777857924461972024-03-13T08:07:16.894-07:00Anonymous Chess CollectorAbout antique chess sets, my personal collection and chess collecting in general.
Please feel free to comment. I will get in touch with you if requested.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-31666217661690961782011-04-16T05:18:00.001-07:002012-06-13T13:24:07.369-07:00Early English set<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwth0IPIWEOMchLgwNLmryIrSYNfDhYbeIkvWDqJcDUx2qXqt9vvkG0PapmfR_klr9PZj5iEhSeC8KbHH0fys-zrz3JeeWwl-GRs56lygkDH3tWcuXYbzInx6j0RmEsQxlXMdHcJSDwU/s1600/set1.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596154989188776322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwth0IPIWEOMchLgwNLmryIrSYNfDhYbeIkvWDqJcDUx2qXqt9vvkG0PapmfR_klr9PZj5iEhSeC8KbHH0fys-zrz3JeeWwl-GRs56lygkDH3tWcuXYbzInx6j0RmEsQxlXMdHcJSDwU/s400/set1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 131px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
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This bone set has several interesting features. It is unmistakably English and has all markers of 1700s which could be seen in Washington pattern as well: urn-like bases and necks + bent horse heads. All pieces besides Rooks are normal 18th C. English.<br />
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The rooks, however, are quite similar to the well known elaborate "Spanish pulpit" pattern which most probably has not anything to do with Spain. See examples of that pattern <a href="http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/other/SpanishPulpitSet.htm">here</a>, <a href="http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/other/Pulpit-TypeSet.htm">here</a> and <a href="http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/other/SpanishPulpitChessSet.htm">here</a>. Besides Rooks, all these sets have common colour of the black side and the screw threads seem to be similarly manufactured as well. Researchers and collectors like Michael Mark and Hans & Barbara Holländer (<a href="http://www.chessbase.de/nachrichten.asp?newsid=4319">see the famous exhibition catalogue</a>) have long classified these sets as English but attribution to Spain still persists among some people. My set might be considered a further proof for the English origin.<br />
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The trouble with the Pulpit pattern is that there does not seem to exist two identical Pulpit sets and their number is rather low compared to the output of major chess set makers. It is still unknown if the same maker produced other sets and who he might have been. <a href="http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1372744">This set</a>, for example, is rather similar to mine albeit Rooks.<br />
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All 32 pieces are present. There are some restorations (one Black Knight head is replaced and some crenellations repaired) which do not affect the overall impression. Rather contrary, some damage is expected if a chess set is more than 200 years old. The set has not been restained. Taking into account the original colour, screw threads etc., I am completely convinced that the Rooks are original to this set.</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-67780215984448394272010-04-24T12:14:00.001-07:002010-04-24T12:19:01.894-07:00Early Selenus pieces<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigPYHNbi4gvd3YxZk4XEFCy1a72EskiobEA2XiM_xYmDYMiC1Bv7nPFWpe45WsvtJsf4pWZHBppbRJeB8QaYsap1HkTPmC-L1Txkdty5IGj54lf34bTw4S6zOH2kpFCEakNnxYyLrs2k/s1600/selenus.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigPYHNbi4gvd3YxZk4XEFCy1a72EskiobEA2XiM_xYmDYMiC1Bv7nPFWpe45WsvtJsf4pWZHBppbRJeB8QaYsap1HkTPmC-L1Txkdty5IGj54lf34bTw4S6zOH2kpFCEakNnxYyLrs2k/s400/selenus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463784652212157666" border="0" /></a>A collection of Continental Selenus pattern pieces made of bone. It is not even a partial set, but all kinds are represented and the existing pieces are in good order. One can spot similarities with 18th C English Bird Nest pattern. The small-headed Knight looks also rather early. I think that the lot comes from the 18th century.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-9946700163868562892009-12-25T10:13:00.001-08:002011-04-16T05:48:35.764-07:00My first Italian set<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKBZ7kg0RZaRfStWVgrJRvAIScIaeLC0XNnQpx6JbDXRvYX7FK4M5jW6thu0molrWTnt-BiuhZ6Ho7jgyCYeRb1qhpAl00rn9ZvK5Xhgtoqead91TmRanLMjjwuJiOei3g6OqrbRhJBk/s1600-h/it1-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKBZ7kg0RZaRfStWVgrJRvAIScIaeLC0XNnQpx6JbDXRvYX7FK4M5jW6thu0molrWTnt-BiuhZ6Ho7jgyCYeRb1qhpAl00rn9ZvK5Xhgtoqead91TmRanLMjjwuJiOei3g6OqrbRhJBk/s400/it1-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419238810384624514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">A wooden chess set from the 18th century Italy.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Came with a box-board with drawer for wooden checkers. The board might come from the same period since the veneer is hand-sawn. The joints seem to be hand-made as well. It would be a definite marker of 18th century manufacture if it was British, but I am not so sure about Italy. The set itself is housed in a round container, which is most probably original.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtnv8keNCs0xNb56br2yySK9zxUGyjWYYYGPiZFT_qI_xiF6wM3JyRmxUKQt95EvwSqWP01GbGbcFsoUBrQIf0kzEQKhWJpHQCk_YPh9B3qZ9vNSZshmViAChhHbCOJ6-ZY76NWnV6mg/s1600-h/set+board+and+container.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtnv8keNCs0xNb56br2yySK9zxUGyjWYYYGPiZFT_qI_xiF6wM3JyRmxUKQt95EvwSqWP01GbGbcFsoUBrQIf0kzEQKhWJpHQCk_YPh9B3qZ9vNSZshmViAChhHbCOJ6-ZY76NWnV6mg/s200/set+board+and+container.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419246235654259826" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-14043222309847717642009-02-21T04:34:00.000-08:002009-02-21T04:59:48.880-08:00Bird Nest<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nNClRIjL7gCkUPZBZ9aQeRqTmoBhUDBxJ_sdS4_zlNtiaVpYbRiREqVP9dFc6hRNXR-k4CuMu8SKzQQ4myUC4vUEtF0YRWV9oo3TOr-gPj7JXa14tA_HSlvWXkE6Eu0pvg_YsYBx3mg/s1600-h/21022009360.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305228476873126946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nNClRIjL7gCkUPZBZ9aQeRqTmoBhUDBxJ_sdS4_zlNtiaVpYbRiREqVP9dFc6hRNXR-k4CuMu8SKzQQ4myUC4vUEtF0YRWV9oo3TOr-gPj7JXa14tA_HSlvWXkE6Eu0pvg_YsYBx3mg/s400/21022009360.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305228616019774994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpmSR1FbmBGah2DGMYAa7x4wBenMFw6ao9Xtxi04e6ABObhJjVm1TueoR4o2yKEx2rIsYqJ6Pin7lrjvk45DJhXN0O0FQQWEDrIlPqdzbYJpAMmhcW2N39hL7gR5YYYpQG9vpUUGS2rs/s400/21022009363.jpg" border="0" />An 18th-century ivory set from England. This small-cupped pattern is often called "Bird Nest" and looks like an English variation of Continental Selenus design.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305230638214321810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjg6LwH5hw_OvfkXak-E-yLB2mY8RHcptCo7h76Q0xAVGhMJ3ND6EGP9HKanOfml8m52Ngk6T3x2San0l2efqeSXB84BWTUX8vIBXQzecFvloPmQ1zFk9aRZtPL6bOc7oc9-1yJtLdZ8/s400/21022009347.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">The Knight head is pretty well worked for it's small size. It seems to have similarities with carvings of some French Knights from the same period.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-1153591608081951462008-11-16T03:56:00.000-08:002011-04-16T02:33:25.826-07:00Danish variation of the Selenus pattern<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9yEy1pjHQoVUU7fIkcps1g5h05Q285QlY5ihzTFwDhxNiaVRCtO7qM_LAFWDfx2bE6adauuQBFnx538cUrwRGOo7CgCgztn9YbLOfN39zrDHMGmv4Gs5Z2rYWxpitIdpJK9OUfosUis/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9yEy1pjHQoVUU7fIkcps1g5h05Q285QlY5ihzTFwDhxNiaVRCtO7qM_LAFWDfx2bE6adauuQBFnx538cUrwRGOo7CgCgztn9YbLOfN39zrDHMGmv4Gs5Z2rYWxpitIdpJK9OUfosUis/s400/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269223477042689890" border="0" /></a><span>An ultra-classic example of Danish Selenus pattern variation. These rather small but elegant and delicate bone sets are commonly dated to late 18th century.</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-57210189865522825212008-11-05T00:12:00.000-08:002008-11-05T00:21:51.222-08:00Fine and interesting Selenus set<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40RRiT0kk3btA7F4xySg9iFtTUHcfSvEJAxahxj4sMc_zny4DV1dhuvuMNjuR31W9dAzBl8NvVvMos7mHL3NmJGJMrW8JcOxtXwQphEwZoO_0PajFKciLwvDK8rPNq3E86GIUtruRLmc/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40RRiT0kk3btA7F4xySg9iFtTUHcfSvEJAxahxj4sMc_zny4DV1dhuvuMNjuR31W9dAzBl8NvVvMos7mHL3NmJGJMrW8JcOxtXwQphEwZoO_0PajFKciLwvDK8rPNq3E86GIUtruRLmc/s400/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265083491613521010" border="0" /></a>This set might be Danish but could in fact originate from Germany, Austria or Netherlands just as well. A somewhat similar but fancier set can be seen in "Schach Partie Durch Zeiten und Welten" page 222.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SnbTh2ACorAtLaY3lwkDqFCB1ZR1fqWwTJUG0Ff2feKz3lWSoxmxsVInvd0NWYPci5j9CZPHKKWjAG3ONIDd6vw8tI9F50M8DmdTPX2BqvBQb9hvKdM-1Nevhj27c-vV8GzrtEvD4hY/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SnbTh2ACorAtLaY3lwkDqFCB1ZR1fqWwTJUG0Ff2feKz3lWSoxmxsVInvd0NWYPci5j9CZPHKKWjAG3ONIDd6vw8tI9F50M8DmdTPX2BqvBQb9hvKdM-1Nevhj27c-vV8GzrtEvD4hY/s400/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265083730614134818" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The same set photographed with flashlight.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-868796059111893142008-10-11T12:19:00.001-07:002008-10-14T06:43:56.308-07:00London<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYTCq2XnOKdnPtvPaXQF1H_IcCLvVTeWyEGP8Ugp70Yd9ekmnPp6FRYxh517QhjBRZMAL0VrhFZN8ZuoVHTl7obqXesQoR50GB0_EsZ6XlPa2mNy1Cld3HH2auZfuXGfDW9YuH-M_fdM/s1600-h/tower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYTCq2XnOKdnPtvPaXQF1H_IcCLvVTeWyEGP8Ugp70Yd9ekmnPp6FRYxh517QhjBRZMAL0VrhFZN8ZuoVHTl7obqXesQoR50GB0_EsZ6XlPa2mNy1Cld3HH2auZfuXGfDW9YuH-M_fdM/s400/tower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255978574341681090" border="0" /></a>They constantly erect modern buildings next to grand and historical ones. The Tower of London looks like a puppet show decoration among the glass and concrete mountains.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvz4RWzf4rZp_ZPl7kYYi0PhGjVoAerc9CI1nVwFfpGgEDA6IBbKDy9_JpxBg9KQykaZqsM5-tSjPzE5LTSBEJ0F9dFIp8PN1-iEsIY6hkbPVIyGxvsKGVOgKtpV50WQ_AGKlZrOxEEhc/s1600-h/bad+practice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvz4RWzf4rZp_ZPl7kYYi0PhGjVoAerc9CI1nVwFfpGgEDA6IBbKDy9_JpxBg9KQykaZqsM5-tSjPzE5LTSBEJ0F9dFIp8PN1-iEsIY6hkbPVIyGxvsKGVOgKtpV50WQ_AGKlZrOxEEhc/s400/bad+practice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255978977416943122" border="0" /></a>Another example of this disgusting practice.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sUAp9owf9vchoTC_B9i86TbH2jb6tH3iGXcdtR1thvFYcFlQJTjcey0Vea9yxKETgSyihaEDtUCmmY5FUCz4t841dD8qEqTwgswpCsTriPLUiEd96Y3IA4F4Ky8WTJmw7oEYJAk20Ks/s1600-h/noparking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sUAp9owf9vchoTC_B9i86TbH2jb6tH3iGXcdtR1thvFYcFlQJTjcey0Vea9yxKETgSyihaEDtUCmmY5FUCz4t841dD8qEqTwgswpCsTriPLUiEd96Y3IA4F4Ky8WTJmw7oEYJAk20Ks/s400/noparking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255979310541583746" border="0" /></a>British humour?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyQ7YgT5MIXV8aAPc5hkaKHUWg65mj_gipVgJ06F89olm4GIGubK1jPRzfA447k88FAOyvzFV8hLiZmFVdxs9wqmlkcqKB9cj9Ez5PPj-ujnRxxhzHxsoQwC8vU7qAE_0AH0aHL6APJI/s1600-h/bus1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyQ7YgT5MIXV8aAPc5hkaKHUWg65mj_gipVgJ06F89olm4GIGubK1jPRzfA447k88FAOyvzFV8hLiZmFVdxs9wqmlkcqKB9cj9Ez5PPj-ujnRxxhzHxsoQwC8vU7qAE_0AH0aHL6APJI/s400/bus1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255979480487910066" border="0" /></a>Too bad that the 2-story buses are intended to be put out of use. They are fun to ride if you get a good place and great for sightseeing (and what a merry sight it is in the present case!)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllCiZTE_Pq85dwblQvG9zMoIw_OKIjCiv1jAV3F0x5MNSKYqf0vxv5TwsOd8-SlzRxOVbUz4ABJY5-MFTsMguVQ2HyGqZg6jTn4V6IDL-5GZQWNmogtfDC_XZwtFjWuBzmo3UrPZMUOg/s1600-h/regence.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllCiZTE_Pq85dwblQvG9zMoIw_OKIjCiv1jAV3F0x5MNSKYqf0vxv5TwsOd8-SlzRxOVbUz4ABJY5-MFTsMguVQ2HyGqZg6jTn4V6IDL-5GZQWNmogtfDC_XZwtFjWuBzmo3UrPZMUOg/s400/regence.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255979948367458258" border="0" /></a>Tourist items in 221B Baker Street (the Sherlock Holmes museum). One can see a horn Regence set often listed at eBay as vintage or antique among other brand new tourist chess sets. This one is interesting for two reasons. First, I did not have evidence that they are still producing them until today. Secondly, mind the White Knight with black base. Looks like something had gone wrong with either bleaching or staining process. They might make the both sides from one kind of horn after all, although the sets are usually listed as buffalo and cow horn. I do not know enough about that material to tell for sure but whatever the truth is, the piece on the picture does raise suspicions.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtIqWwp3W83hyRGSWSYitLTVsXBMqW4PJag9rCNUXEPAGyF_iNadwhN3lyO-1BxUsMcmrA4JAmviHFDhcyZ_b9IDi53C_RavBFZzPNqq9f7zi71UX2nBArI4d0xtqH-S2OFk_gZUVSZI/s1600-h/alan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtIqWwp3W83hyRGSWSYitLTVsXBMqW4PJag9rCNUXEPAGyF_iNadwhN3lyO-1BxUsMcmrA4JAmviHFDhcyZ_b9IDi53C_RavBFZzPNqq9f7zi71UX2nBArI4d0xtqH-S2OFk_gZUVSZI/s400/alan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256323523692278738" border="0" /></a>Mr. D. in action. The pictures are available at <a title="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/chessspy/BonhamsChessCards141008" href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/chessspy/BonhamsChessCards141008">http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/chessspy/BonhamsChessCards141008</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JjXM5UT0f9lFSTy8d8ZKfyvTMBzTG3F6SrmboDeNekeiCOTnJOhGETDRzksm9FJnvXr8wXwEuYQlnEgVcr3C3e7QfRI5usGh0Pl0ytickDIp_nm4K0epcoodg9FBeSF9qxCZ9zMXJr8/s1600-h/hugs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JjXM5UT0f9lFSTy8d8ZKfyvTMBzTG3F6SrmboDeNekeiCOTnJOhGETDRzksm9FJnvXr8wXwEuYQlnEgVcr3C3e7QfRI5usGh0Pl0ytickDIp_nm4K0epcoodg9FBeSF9qxCZ9zMXJr8/s400/hugs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256323797358432978" border="0" /></a>Great.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q1z59RpQX6ZQOZ0y4HK2mZ7xdnImXv9JQSOLIanGLQvadozs5geUhUOFSQf3e9s0aoWAPGAaoB_a5-_XJqDOHFbtzvyFWnQUEa3RG1tvUmMQYS1lL9ti3NwdAEW-cEJmqsjLFhTRKtc/s1600-h/tower+chips.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q1z59RpQX6ZQOZ0y4HK2mZ7xdnImXv9JQSOLIanGLQvadozs5geUhUOFSQf3e9s0aoWAPGAaoB_a5-_XJqDOHFbtzvyFWnQUEa3RG1tvUmMQYS1lL9ti3NwdAEW-cEJmqsjLFhTRKtc/s400/tower+chips.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257002671556384210" border="0" /></a>Medieval bone playing pieces and dice exhibited in the Tower of London.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmup9C2kzJ5cnAMf8yRl_V3mAwj0DSF40uyAp7woksXC4Za0WJtsNDy7ZqLgMnvr7SizMrXXyZZOp2nCR5wZad88D6PbMYBFovvagcpz8TrpAQeBapqG-hLGDaE0BYeE1mi9yERCPjRq4/s1600-h/tower+chesspiece1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmup9C2kzJ5cnAMf8yRl_V3mAwj0DSF40uyAp7woksXC4Za0WJtsNDy7ZqLgMnvr7SizMrXXyZZOp2nCR5wZad88D6PbMYBFovvagcpz8TrpAQeBapqG-hLGDaE0BYeE1mi9yERCPjRq4/s320/tower+chesspiece1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257004356111262354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeqxrfJWgycahEWEi3jtdbSJUwZJ9vug9MjLwVLAzEuBbyvs4CZqnd-Pqm9LZYuvmuO7g9bF8LFBiZkAUqlMssC04hm0KGBJBOhNYAmniLvZA0vNBpAVq0XJorxr1v-s7tM8_Sz_sWV4/s1600-h/tower+chesspiece2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeqxrfJWgycahEWEi3jtdbSJUwZJ9vug9MjLwVLAzEuBbyvs4CZqnd-Pqm9LZYuvmuO7g9bF8LFBiZkAUqlMssC04hm0KGBJBOhNYAmniLvZA0vNBpAVq0XJorxr1v-s7tM8_Sz_sWV4/s320/tower+chesspiece2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257004493867842866" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A gorgeous rock crystal chess piece from the 11th century exhibited in the Tower of London.<br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-56118353250245406542008-07-31T03:52:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:14:39.904-08:00Fine Regence set with glass eyesA good example of Regence sets with glass-eyed Knights. The set features prominent and well carved Knights with 19th C style glass inlay eyes (all of which are present) and finely turned other pieces. Pawns are of early design and the whole set should date to early 19th Century.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4K3NewOwZjW8EGXL_WA4H65PCi_HYCDOF7R-nnkZSMEOFBNXPAZAXNE6bie9v36nlVR8_aVfi0YXvN6eA8zvNJaWk3DYvwll0PhRpi8aEQ1XfQSwgkN5-fDvSO476jKyglOW_Ke_mN4/s1600-h/white.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4K3NewOwZjW8EGXL_WA4H65PCi_HYCDOF7R-nnkZSMEOFBNXPAZAXNE6bie9v36nlVR8_aVfi0YXvN6eA8zvNJaWk3DYvwll0PhRpi8aEQ1XfQSwgkN5-fDvSO476jKyglOW_Ke_mN4/s400/white.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229129732850227394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">White side<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60lfwL2AnGqIU25g3Zq1lDBZj_for5n3UJnULBJh-Bi1lVcIbfYGt9nSzL2TheHkezuFFTHeFtFnLzz0P3H0aHF83KJ5e2rAKUEdH025ub7L6bK27z9tM_P6vxqtSwiTbrfa6cx7OJ58/s1600-h/black.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60lfwL2AnGqIU25g3Zq1lDBZj_for5n3UJnULBJh-Bi1lVcIbfYGt9nSzL2TheHkezuFFTHeFtFnLzz0P3H0aHF83KJ5e2rAKUEdH025ub7L6bK27z9tM_P6vxqtSwiTbrfa6cx7OJ58/s400/black.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229130572915038706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Black side<br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-Z_amtHUz6guIkKQNgG-VnoRWpG2HlwOUccBlaG_pi8Ts6BpBL49eRuOfl8k17wG9bjBXxxiFluEbjcqC01cu096USL3UeoUlOMmuc_QoCH0cs2OYbFj7fssATZg_UEZtdVx-EXqZNg/s1600-h/white+pieces.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-Z_amtHUz6guIkKQNgG-VnoRWpG2HlwOUccBlaG_pi8Ts6BpBL49eRuOfl8k17wG9bjBXxxiFluEbjcqC01cu096USL3UeoUlOMmuc_QoCH0cs2OYbFj7fssATZg_UEZtdVx-EXqZNg/s400/white+pieces.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229131075770464450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A closeup of White major pieces<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBe9aHY0rzOr518z2cstFoP3B0VD07uwI9bi7_JBwYy1Go08247svYZGK2B_0EnMzHRku-AjV9dLJVDKuz2I90yuMOHBlZ90GwLqLL-b2Yhdbamnb4DBjbvlvUeOzMf4-9ucK2yMFIppM/s1600-h/Kn1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBe9aHY0rzOr518z2cstFoP3B0VD07uwI9bi7_JBwYy1Go08247svYZGK2B_0EnMzHRku-AjV9dLJVDKuz2I90yuMOHBlZ90GwLqLL-b2Yhdbamnb4DBjbvlvUeOzMf4-9ucK2yMFIppM/s400/Kn1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229131552818963106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">White Knight</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-41780440169892552552008-06-06T08:19:00.001-07:002008-12-09T14:14:41.161-08:00Early "Encyclopedia" Regence set<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWhxIZqlb1IfIYPWsoZm5tVDHsEtGdu-3hdUpjYS_vSfLZ2xQd6i7Bcp8BksbWgivs5Z4MUmSa7OXRsb_0ntSj63F0WMQAfqqjdhtLs7zodZRqns4laUiBSDfVqnjKH5Ll-Re8BBiLDg/s1600-h/IMG_2632.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWhxIZqlb1IfIYPWsoZm5tVDHsEtGdu-3hdUpjYS_vSfLZ2xQd6i7Bcp8BksbWgivs5Z4MUmSa7OXRsb_0ntSj63F0WMQAfqqjdhtLs7zodZRqns4laUiBSDfVqnjKH5Ll-Re8BBiLDg/s400/IMG_2632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208788909260983842" border="0" /></a>A rare excample of an early Regence subpattern turned on so-called "rose lathe engine". The subpattern owes its name to the famous 1780 French encyclopedia compiled Diderot and d'Alembert where it illustrates the article about chess. It is still unclear when they started to make sets like that but obviously it had to be widespread and common to reach encyclopedia. The technology was available from the 16th century but it is hard to believe that the same design could have been produced for 200 years (compare the pattern of 1780 to the Regence set made in 1980). If the triangular Knights represent tricorne hats then it cannot be earlier than mid-1600s when seamen started to use them. Many people think that the triangular finials have nothing to do with these hats, though. A safe guess should be 18th century, possibly earlier.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />A good explanation about the rose engine can be found <a href="http://home.vicnet.net.au/%7Epwguild/o-rosego.htm">here</a>.<br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The set is made of boxwood and stained with tobacco which was the most common way in these days. Much of the stain is faded.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsLMpvaBqHWXQdPGXbMIBnAUOrPd3glJ0C4rhkvqARmMMUyfS0uIphQEkO0cP8hxetSmIeR5opV86BV_ExLD95rx6X_vY9W2vmZnGNpf2if8eBmtSo84Ps6UDYtuAWoEQYmbF4MNjdtY/s1600-h/diderot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsLMpvaBqHWXQdPGXbMIBnAUOrPd3glJ0C4rhkvqARmMMUyfS0uIphQEkO0cP8hxetSmIeR5opV86BV_ExLD95rx6X_vY9W2vmZnGNpf2if8eBmtSo84Ps6UDYtuAWoEQYmbF4MNjdtY/s400/diderot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208790297925348434" border="0" /></a>Illustration from the Encyclopedia.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NKrMfMABuzUjUkAkXYZL4xMQ__YlTBgoVxsWLq_bsmkjsLVONZn_Kj2Lx7ogriij4au6OWyQd_q7L_xvLFXPR5C1RyHR8dBxybGZEyDpFye0Df8KgeteWmyjSx6AEVolKk-reSVhAdU/s1600-h/IMG_2624.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NKrMfMABuzUjUkAkXYZL4xMQ__YlTBgoVxsWLq_bsmkjsLVONZn_Kj2Lx7ogriij4au6OWyQd_q7L_xvLFXPR5C1RyHR8dBxybGZEyDpFye0Df8KgeteWmyjSx6AEVolKk-reSVhAdU/s400/IMG_2624.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208790497899532146" border="0" /></a>A closeup view.<br /><br /></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUYR8i0O7pfREWzCpwzS_478iVufPn2sygOqH-I2SoCOHhYLbUCrKEHSOLAdIX6eDfAfj2cpZg8EjUTzs5UUQ3L53VijpEAj1nPrkhbPmbSQlq2aP33ERDCoerzPbi5r2XCxGYtZABb0/s1600-h/IMG_2640.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUYR8i0O7pfREWzCpwzS_478iVufPn2sygOqH-I2SoCOHhYLbUCrKEHSOLAdIX6eDfAfj2cpZg8EjUTzs5UUQ3L53VijpEAj1nPrkhbPmbSQlq2aP33ERDCoerzPbi5r2XCxGYtZABb0/s400/IMG_2640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208795104773604546" border="0" /></a>Closer still.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">An interesting question about these sets is, which piece is Knight and which Bishop. Weirdly enough, it is far from certain.<br /><br />The illustration above lines the pieces up in the order which we all are accustomed with. But the legend page from the same book tells us otherwise:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid128A_87bcajgkRPLqJWYOtT_Z5YzmfHkFmGQ3PVe-zj7XaKLBPxW6iMf4OOjCHYl0haeWBBm9EpekaplkWViKGhOs5b0BqW8xVlMsN_9hbWkClmIf5VVXZngpVGx6qK31HlJ_Knv-eY/s1600-h/d_legend.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid128A_87bcajgkRPLqJWYOtT_Z5YzmfHkFmGQ3PVe-zj7XaKLBPxW6iMf4OOjCHYl0haeWBBm9EpekaplkWViKGhOs5b0BqW8xVlMsN_9hbWkClmIf5VVXZngpVGx6qK31HlJ_Knv-eY/s400/d_legend.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212212560410876770" border="0" /></a>According to this, the pieces with tricorne finials are Bishops (<span style="font-style: italic;">Fou</span>), not Knights.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">However, if a Regence set has figural Knights, then Bishops look like Knights from an Encyclopedia set. Have a look at following pictures:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZCxSgDOk4TcFwcUv-QPagbmfCjjuzfrLtT7XmiPuN80QLa6n6b47zFgqk3wSga9KhaIjrzIYdAbvfy-DrG_nUNptjY5jVB7JqbNo3giGictM2jtPcSNMkMKTKozplhzx-c9PdclDyK0/s1600-h/hocquart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZCxSgDOk4TcFwcUv-QPagbmfCjjuzfrLtT7XmiPuN80QLa6n6b47zFgqk3wSga9KhaIjrzIYdAbvfy-DrG_nUNptjY5jVB7JqbNo3giGictM2jtPcSNMkMKTKozplhzx-c9PdclDyK0/s400/hocquart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212215172864165090" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A picture from <span class="lw-text"> Hocquart's <span style="font-style: italic;">Traite d'Échecs</span> (1810)<br />Note that the pieces are presented in the same order as in Diderot's encyclopedia. Queen, Bishops and Pawns have identical finials (small balls).<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIghKZKybDjzvphj7qPScTPcOYDNU4_CsL7tfvvBdfR90KaEMtQeGqachL7_Y7z9fDBIL5z7a44fOH_RdBJKTeY7evs_zpbqTJc_P6XbY5DGgtibC9H82LhmUL7pXjzEvpHy1HN8n57bk/s1600-h/offenbach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIghKZKybDjzvphj7qPScTPcOYDNU4_CsL7tfvvBdfR90KaEMtQeGqachL7_Y7z9fDBIL5z7a44fOH_RdBJKTeY7evs_zpbqTJc_P6XbY5DGgtibC9H82LhmUL7pXjzEvpHy1HN8n57bk/s400/offenbach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212218069560206946" border="0" /></a>Another rose-engine set, picture from <span class="lw-text"><span style="font-style: italic;">Offenbach 2005 Teil I ~ Die Ausstellung ~ Schach - ein Spiel der Vernunft in Offenbach am Main, Im Haus der Stadtgeschichte vom 19. März - 8. Mai 2005, ISBN 3-00-015869-3</span>, page 27. Knights and Bishops look exactly how we are used to see them. Thanks to Alan Dewey and Joost van Reij for the reference and picture editing.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Many sets from the late 18th century or 19th century feature Bishops with small ball finials like Queens but having triangular collars and Knights with horse heads.<br /><br />As my set looks exactly like in the encyclopedia of Diderot and d'Alembert, the pieces with triangular finials are most probably Bishops, not Knights and the photographs above show wrong setup. However, other early Regence subpatterns have Bishops similar to the Knights of my set.<br /><br />Bishops with tricorne finials can also be found in early Spanish sets: see examples from <a href="http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/other/SpanishWoodenSet.htm">Crumiller collection</a> and <a href="http://www.geocities.com/dermot_rochford/rochford_collection/secbig/18CTri1.html">Rocheford collection</a>. The same is true about <a href="http://www.wittitscheks-schachfiguren.de/sets18/show.php?pi=18_it_01a&t=4">Italian sets</a> (Witticke collection).<br /><span class="lw-text"></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-49067261137158844012008-05-17T03:25:00.001-07:002008-12-09T14:14:43.547-08:00Fine Kholmogory walrus ivory knight<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCOiWpXIn_v8OWOQHQGZl4bUM2ezY1byT-MKjTuKrBG9ttBA23FKwOForDLu7BHfQRPT25O_FHxkG0eaagC1w3Yi_0R4nlVW-gx3qwe_YUVZVazGKdkjYVN6Nmhs0mip9yRbGM63Zr1k/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCOiWpXIn_v8OWOQHQGZl4bUM2ezY1byT-MKjTuKrBG9ttBA23FKwOForDLu7BHfQRPT25O_FHxkG0eaagC1w3Yi_0R4nlVW-gx3qwe_YUVZVazGKdkjYVN6Nmhs0mip9yRbGM63Zr1k/s200/3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201292375445767154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIV-Ed20xuymzNqJ5cRWDZXDU5oI6C1mRivtt1y1ityl3FdES7qVModqG7PeFuaFV-ewuyERrTLY-pFV6Pnio9zSnYw7rwb2uBJK9RYkfrvpql2bjq_74BRvkpuhN6w5FkBXFGc4hOvP0/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIV-Ed20xuymzNqJ5cRWDZXDU5oI6C1mRivtt1y1ityl3FdES7qVModqG7PeFuaFV-ewuyERrTLY-pFV6Pnio9zSnYw7rwb2uBJK9RYkfrvpql2bjq_74BRvkpuhN6w5FkBXFGc4hOvP0/s200/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201292199352107986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4noQ0l2MlZ8z2SQgZhPQmb9aEAhW0s_zlQJWVMWvJMIuxbMphtjXc2rS9HMWJFbj41U9vGxEI1PHkvD7fBkgr7FmMvaQH3zB-kJ3uUXp_X2sQunk8l0QBECXxsOCfJnF9TMVU7n7TLA/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4noQ0l2MlZ8z2SQgZhPQmb9aEAhW0s_zlQJWVMWvJMIuxbMphtjXc2rS9HMWJFbj41U9vGxEI1PHkvD7fBkgr7FmMvaQH3zB-kJ3uUXp_X2sQunk8l0QBECXxsOCfJnF9TMVU7n7TLA/s200/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201292280956486626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFsdah2McOCf2ZLTGnpHgBvjqFIfMO9K9ZTa4vsl1rqm8e8xhwNyNjwItQ98jmb0vzLCluM8rtDdfB03e5SyQoqY0qfciC59KC5uj0d-zRIYMD1aBsPKSagf7yb4RRriAuo7oHwC-p10/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFsdah2McOCf2ZLTGnpHgBvjqFIfMO9K9ZTa4vsl1rqm8e8xhwNyNjwItQ98jmb0vzLCluM8rtDdfB03e5SyQoqY0qfciC59KC5uj0d-zRIYMD1aBsPKSagf7yb4RRriAuo7oHwC-p10/s200/6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201292882251908130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULolaediT9zXlgnAddutpXc3tT_YLFILrCezAbmHXDBTPPLS9mpMqM3aJ8XfLaARxm2Yg1w_Zyr6y_RN4UomWK5JqUw0NKc9ApxagZDAQnNBzjCiEBE6gWhezOXw0dP60pScgQgzrQEQ/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULolaediT9zXlgnAddutpXc3tT_YLFILrCezAbmHXDBTPPLS9mpMqM3aJ8XfLaARxm2Yg1w_Zyr6y_RN4UomWK5JqUw0NKc9ApxagZDAQnNBzjCiEBE6gWhezOXw0dP60pScgQgzrQEQ/s200/4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201292611668968450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4mOP-hfdZXEtrHwJRmKv_HUdFT76VuC-qnlSPm8CaITfigMGkwNY3V1a5MiVspU7E5UG96P9YYVy17zxJoGau5_Jf8Mkz-IyThu_6_gHVGygTulyueDDAUDLv6lA_KcYSQqT-SKtFQc/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4mOP-hfdZXEtrHwJRmKv_HUdFT76VuC-qnlSPm8CaITfigMGkwNY3V1a5MiVspU7E5UG96P9YYVy17zxJoGau5_Jf8Mkz-IyThu_6_gHVGygTulyueDDAUDLv6lA_KcYSQqT-SKtFQc/s200/5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201292744812954642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KTwQnrIEWI9QY1-FTVoyWcvne3Jcl1mqmTf8fS58ctRdusTz_Ll8doxvAyXnpQ_qHuIkX-CDV8cSgVo1ny1hGUFtc1dtdYe7j39u93zA2Jk4oTTNmUM9ITYnvhm7GOMpnRpxNjrx6JI/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KTwQnrIEWI9QY1-FTVoyWcvne3Jcl1mqmTf8fS58ctRdusTz_Ll8doxvAyXnpQ_qHuIkX-CDV8cSgVo1ny1hGUFtc1dtdYe7j39u93zA2Jk4oTTNmUM9ITYnvhm7GOMpnRpxNjrx6JI/s200/7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201293277388899378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMhvSc9692LCr9bBK3Zt2VhuH-hdEI-iPCSaYGHchSPd7QY_nLwsqqDhyPoev5U9EBFJCBpajFQiYF2B8vnEPtj_RsDU6_fKUl3O0iBZnwa-o_2jYzO-GR2t4OhY0WqlKAC5kA71032k/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMhvSc9692LCr9bBK3Zt2VhuH-hdEI-iPCSaYGHchSPd7QY_nLwsqqDhyPoev5U9EBFJCBpajFQiYF2B8vnEPtj_RsDU6_fKUl3O0iBZnwa-o_2jYzO-GR2t4OhY0WqlKAC5kA71032k/s200/8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201293462072493122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVci4FpYZ3LjwYVhEW5PKo4em1vGu86Dqy_Q3tjUq5EPfmzlxBcwHMzFOQ4HrYR-Z240mIHze05KM9nUfO3TPla23qstaUpCwNt7n08kIwn0LBk8V9grcfcDN0sbjs_2t-MqtccjLY_tM/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVci4FpYZ3LjwYVhEW5PKo4em1vGu86Dqy_Q3tjUq5EPfmzlxBcwHMzFOQ4HrYR-Z240mIHze05KM9nUfO3TPla23qstaUpCwNt7n08kIwn0LBk8V9grcfcDN0sbjs_2t-MqtccjLY_tM/s200/9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201293754130269266" border="0" /></a>This fine piece comes from a 18th century Russian Kholmogory set and is made of walrus ivory. The carving quality is second to none.<br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdBtVcyDzXtPdG0KDztDmRP6X5b0alM3iRnpiryefZsPy-EZgKdjSibwSe-Y4iZNoc7eSJfT-4OfmKUvebkt7LIS-9mOYouUtxTfc4Kb9N3-fZZiNcfvGRXECN_vyszGu-liNHyUtzMU/s1600-h/walrus.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdBtVcyDzXtPdG0KDztDmRP6X5b0alM3iRnpiryefZsPy-EZgKdjSibwSe-Y4iZNoc7eSJfT-4OfmKUvebkt7LIS-9mOYouUtxTfc4Kb9N3-fZZiNcfvGRXECN_vyszGu-liNHyUtzMU/s400/walrus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201294797807322210" border="0" /></a>Walrus ivory<br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-47477559490627611832008-05-04T09:24:00.001-07:002011-04-16T02:34:43.947-07:00Regence set<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFAk4pkpocdGKJIDU6bimoAeyvQ98XEiiEsm5v_tzElhjQbcMCeeOJ6dKnaPVtxrMtbag45iMa4i3cUCDMdGPFEWezkYMSELVg4UTmgXJP6_mEDjx4A2XFOtTpjLppuoG7GuWxASltXg/s1600-h/r2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFAk4pkpocdGKJIDU6bimoAeyvQ98XEiiEsm5v_tzElhjQbcMCeeOJ6dKnaPVtxrMtbag45iMa4i3cUCDMdGPFEWezkYMSELVg4UTmgXJP6_mEDjx4A2XFOtTpjLppuoG7GuWxASltXg/s400/r2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196559660464452066" border="0" /></a><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Finely turned and early Regence pattern chess set from around 1800. I have come to believe that it rather comes from the 1700s, though.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-3OMpIo-axy65mAqfqDHMH_OHBcQYavEVrdem9rrZzeV9iCHRV5PvalvaOEPj3EWeaQvYAz_S3zA_hF1KxPlWcXQc1-z_8q7_s4V9rGWf06BcpX83gfYtnXqFnsIKbBuAvf8rkKfSGY/s1600-h/rw.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-3OMpIo-axy65mAqfqDHMH_OHBcQYavEVrdem9rrZzeV9iCHRV5PvalvaOEPj3EWeaQvYAz_S3zA_hF1KxPlWcXQc1-z_8q7_s4V9rGWf06BcpX83gfYtnXqFnsIKbBuAvf8rkKfSGY/s400/rw.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196559870917849586" border="0" /></a><br />White pieces<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eXkIgRg-PJN249YzU5WCUjx3OHMXrX27NAldP8UZUnt42N_Q8yH7x6ZbjerM5IDWN3BwpZ7TjP0Bt21K3wNbzS_jsujv8zeJDc0leVUXlf7xryfBy5HCo5Cb3OmpKebQBkEAdDtacE8/s1600-h/rb.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eXkIgRg-PJN249YzU5WCUjx3OHMXrX27NAldP8UZUnt42N_Q8yH7x6ZbjerM5IDWN3BwpZ7TjP0Bt21K3wNbzS_jsujv8zeJDc0leVUXlf7xryfBy5HCo5Cb3OmpKebQBkEAdDtacE8/s400/rb.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196560034126606850" border="0" /></a><br />Black pieces<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-25756440636800171392008-01-21T06:18:00.000-08:002011-04-16T02:39:32.782-07:00Some words on small German setsSmall German sets and rollup boards were imported to England in remarkable diversity. Sometimes the sets carry the labels of English retailers, but they still come from Germany (<a href="http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/english/SpurinChessSet.htm">an example from Crumiller collection</a>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuMyFFKcwBFtnsQMul-21G4GT76dgepunkcoZ6X7bQyFHzw9fjinG4dxV1EmHsbcvu83vcVPS72pmW17VLfnUaklspfy01-alpvUpbkwpAkfDpHEL54I15WOoS9AMWS4eeBX5PrbyFFE/s1600-h/boxes+closed.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuMyFFKcwBFtnsQMul-21G4GT76dgepunkcoZ6X7bQyFHzw9fjinG4dxV1EmHsbcvu83vcVPS72pmW17VLfnUaklspfy01-alpvUpbkwpAkfDpHEL54I15WOoS9AMWS4eeBX5PrbyFFE/s400/boxes+closed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157940757053390498" border="0" /></a><br />The lid of the larger box has words "CHESS AND DRAUGHTS BOARD".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2zEyrKKkLLnT3CwMWYF_SInZSgO5H8pEWbi5KY9t2Y6nBlMYwWRmXVl0OsnGucoTckj0uIK7ZJpucKV8k1_QP6RLrIpALhZOE_QbY07R3pXf7AOl1M_0XC7YgmS4CLLEEcBSDlcub48/s1600-h/boxes+open.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2zEyrKKkLLnT3CwMWYF_SInZSgO5H8pEWbi5KY9t2Y6nBlMYwWRmXVl0OsnGucoTckj0uIK7ZJpucKV8k1_QP6RLrIpALhZOE_QbY07R3pXf7AOl1M_0XC7YgmS4CLLEEcBSDlcub48/s400/boxes+open.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157936432021323330" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The larger set seems to be definitely German. It is known that roll-up boards were imported to England in the 19th century.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN30gZHOW3GvpIAAvbGskMw7M1ahcAsUbJSmF0WiyVFm5UPQW-X8He0eByRMZvA3G_cRPB3mor8clm2oFBruSpJ5HJP9cr6TZuHPSsAkzWTkJnhJN02H1x3eqcdMHlZ3Ysmn5yhdP5o98/s1600-h/2+sets.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN30gZHOW3GvpIAAvbGskMw7M1ahcAsUbJSmF0WiyVFm5UPQW-X8He0eByRMZvA3G_cRPB3mor8clm2oFBruSpJ5HJP9cr6TZuHPSsAkzWTkJnhJN02H1x3eqcdMHlZ3Ysmn5yhdP5o98/s400/2+sets.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157937054791581266" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">However, it seems to be that the smaller, truly miniature set follows exactly the same pattern. Only Knight heads are different. The sawed-out Knight heads similar to the miniature example above are often recognized as German.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update July 14 2009</span>: The common knowledge that these Knights are German is solidly based upon German pattern books. For example, <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZA6J2qxrrd0/SlmqiF64G9I/AAAAAAAAAu8/kOFtwvvzpkU/s720/DSCI0045.JPG">this page</a> from the Nuremberg manufacturers H. Heerdegen and C. Gottlieb dates from around 1870. The designs are fancier than my sets but the common attributes are easy to see. Many thanks to Jan for the information.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2PW_Erfy65rxjVN-ySPKassv5deF0ors_pqC9-RI1ZczaNsZcRWlKrbOxRc_q8MCKLb1PUuG3BEXWNCMjj6eZOyA-NF2miKj6tjE2C9enHZOUXlNZesoc_JFdCvwRq8QCNd1YCRCFe4/s1600-h/finials.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2PW_Erfy65rxjVN-ySPKassv5deF0ors_pqC9-RI1ZczaNsZcRWlKrbOxRc_q8MCKLb1PUuG3BEXWNCMjj6eZOyA-NF2miKj6tjE2C9enHZOUXlNZesoc_JFdCvwRq8QCNd1YCRCFe4/s400/finials.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157937570187656802" border="0" /></a><br />Another look at the major pieces with very similar fnials.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJ6409DWF_B3gTiA2cvODCYEtcNsRncD9E0sAvJ5Gu8wdg5vAjRldAdrYL0iikuhoaGDujonM84d8iCG4zsEIFr4Ux8S5rZu9mO68dBj_Fj4En4-hzj3k63ayv03yrdocd5L40_aOzJ4/s1600-h/rooks.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJ6409DWF_B3gTiA2cvODCYEtcNsRncD9E0sAvJ5Gu8wdg5vAjRldAdrYL0iikuhoaGDujonM84d8iCG4zsEIFr4Ux8S5rZu9mO68dBj_Fj4En4-hzj3k63ayv03yrdocd5L40_aOzJ4/s400/rooks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157937849360531058" border="0" /></a><br />Both Rooks feature raised finials with concentric rings and rather wide bases.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjT3W0XIWWUPx1xEzDVrSvIgoI9unFT7rBuU-a-YxYYQp2-s_zGdIRXzuWX7ZuqbUseo7m9r-djmXIA6XkvilCtWH3rJjKGF6TtsfjqzODJtC7aTbPiD9WHSnuUQw0NIYLUUbVkNY90Y/s1600-h/white+rook.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjT3W0XIWWUPx1xEzDVrSvIgoI9unFT7rBuU-a-YxYYQp2-s_zGdIRXzuWX7ZuqbUseo7m9r-djmXIA6XkvilCtWH3rJjKGF6TtsfjqzODJtC7aTbPiD9WHSnuUQw0NIYLUUbVkNY90Y/s400/white+rook.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157938257382424194" border="0" /></a><br />The Rooks of the miniature set have bases which screw off. This is unusual.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g4zRefwC68e0BF4ElhjAJBi94hErrbs6AAL6JpJjB9H9steZWy1dmqVT_GAkb3xpa0ibOx4vN7b0QOuT4UCno55WAD4XfB_D1avDB_EXg0popaayPHF7-Nbt7q7Hk0OepCdx4URudkA/s1600-h/stray+inlay.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g4zRefwC68e0BF4ElhjAJBi94hErrbs6AAL6JpJjB9H9steZWy1dmqVT_GAkb3xpa0ibOx4vN7b0QOuT4UCno55WAD4XfB_D1avDB_EXg0popaayPHF7-Nbt7q7Hk0OepCdx4URudkA/s400/stray+inlay.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157938927397322386" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Straw work on the lid of the smaller box. Although lots of straw work was done by the Napoleonic POWs, it was widely used in many European countries from the mid-1700s to late 1800s. The assumption that all straw work should be associated with Napoleonic POWs is not correct.<br /><br />The similarities of the pieces suggest that both are German and come from the 19th century. While urn-shaped stems of English sets indicate early manufacture, it is not necessarily true about German sets. Many design elements continued to exist in Germany long after they were discarded in Great Britain. These include open cups (Selenus design runs well into the 20th century while the last English sets resembling open cup are the so-called Calvert or fountain sets from the 1st half of the 19th C) and urn-shaped stems.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq9mbngxrcR9eqLkTuTvKBlbwK1f835nkvFn-LgV8AuY470kFHSOT8My9lF7BcO3Q7HT0kf8OjdwlJjgkxaIF0KhwHi7cljim4AB3KMT3eaGV-0La0rAfMHAj0QasANg7Rv3iq0lgiWc/s1600-h/IMG_1748.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq9mbngxrcR9eqLkTuTvKBlbwK1f835nkvFn-LgV8AuY470kFHSOT8My9lF7BcO3Q7HT0kf8OjdwlJjgkxaIF0KhwHi7cljim4AB3KMT3eaGV-0La0rAfMHAj0QasANg7Rv3iq0lgiWc/s400/IMG_1748.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157942436385603250" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">A 19th century German or Dutch set, possibly Nuremberg, featuring urn-like stems, collars similar to Selenus design, Barleycorn-like barrels and sawed Knights (not from my collection).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update July 30 2008:</span> CCI newsletter "The Chess Collector" (4-5/1 Jan 1990) features an article about German sets by Franz Josef Lang. The author points out that the mid-1800s pattern book of Nurenburg turner A. Kolb has labels "American", "German" and "Roman" under the designs ("American" designs have mitred bishops common in Anglo-Saxon sets) and assumes that these indicate the target markets for these designs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update 2010:</span> Please note that none of the sets above do not belong to my collection any more. The article was left up for discussion on the German sets.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-84520027530630220952007-11-04T08:04:00.000-08:002008-12-09T14:14:54.181-08:00Barleycorn setsThis article is an attempt of a logical classification of chess sets usually associated with the term 'Barleycorn'. It contains very little original research and is in main part a compilation of other people's work. However, as far as I know, no similar pieces of literature devoted to the Barleycorn design can be found online.<br /><br />The author is grateful to Alan Dewey, Frank Camarratta, Jon Crumiller and other people who have provided the pictures or helped to improve this piece. Especially Alan's remarks helped to improve this article greatly.<br /><br />'Barleycorn' is a buzzword widely used for a range of chess sets made in 19th century England for the most part. There are several subpatterns and gray areas where the appliance of the term can become a subject of heated discussion. Below we will examine several decorations, subpatterns and borderline cases.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The origin of the term</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/barleycorn">The Free Dictionary</a> tells us:<br /><br /><span class="hw">bar·ley·co</span>rn (b<span class="pron" onmouseover="return m_over('Click for pronunciation key')" onmouseout="m_out()" onclick="pron_key()">är'l<img src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/emacr.gif" align="absbottom" />-kôrn<img src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/lprime.gif" align="absbottom" />)</span><div class="pseg"><i>n.</i><div class="ds-list"><b>1. </b> The grain of barley.</div><div class="ds-list"><b>2. </b> A unit of measure equal to the length of a grain of barley, or about <sup>1</sup>/<sub>3</sub> inch (0.85 centimeters).</div></div><br />The famous chess set design is said to have come from the shape of foliate decorations used to decorate the royal pieces. It is interesting to note that many sets considered Barleycorn have decorations resembling the leaves of barley or even some other plants. Examples will be presented below.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The Barleycorn Century</span><br /><br /><span class="lw-text">When where the Barleycorn sets produced?</span><br /><br /><span class="lw-text"><a href="http://www.geocities.com/dermot_rochford/Antique_English_Chess_Sets.htm">Dermot Rochford</a>:</span><br /><span class="lw-text">"...I would classify this as an early 19th century Barleycorn, a transistion</span><span class="lw-text"> from the washington style. Note how similar the knight is to set 3's knight. [...] Barleycorn sets so named for the carving found on some of these sets, are an evolution of the Washington type sets and were very common throughout the 19th century even after the Staunton design was introduced."</span><br /><br /><span class="lw-text">Victor Keats ("The Illustrated Guide to World Chess Sets" page 127): "They [Barleycorn sets]</span><span class="lw-text"> [...] first appeared at the beginning of the century. This was due to the decline of trade with</span><span class="lw-text"> Napoleon's France when the supply of playing sets of Dieppe and other French sources</span><span class="lw-text"> decreased." Page 212 reads: "The only other surviving Jefferson set is of barleycorn design [...]</span><span class="lw-text"> sets such as this were made in England in the early 1800s..." And about a set of J. Q. Adams</span><span class="lw-text"> (page 213): "his chess set was [...] in the barleycorn style, made some time after 1825."</span><br /><br /><span class="lw-text"><a href="http://www.chessantiques.com/barleycorn.html">Frank Camarratta</a>:</span><span class="lw-text"> from 1820 to 1845.</span><br /><span class="lw-text"><br />A. E. J. Mackett-Beeson ("Chessmen" page 22): from "early 19th century".<br /></span><br /><span class="lw-text">Frank Greygoose ("Chessmen" plates 69-70): from "early 19th century".</span><br /><br /><span class="lw-text"><a href="http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/chess_barleycorn.htm">Jon Crumiller</a>: "They were very popular in the early to mid 1800's."</span><span class="lw-text"><br /><br />Harry Golombek ("A History of Chess" page 164): A cartoon with Barleycorn-like pieces from</span><span class="lw-text"> 1832.</span><br /><span class="lw-text"><br />Golombek's page 178 contains an image of "A European barleycorn chess-set 1870-80" which</span><span class="lw-text"> misses the foliate decoration.</span><br /><br /><span class="lw-text">Michael Mark ("British Chess Sets"): "[...] were made in bone and ivory and were used in Great Britain throughout almost the whole of the 19th century."</span><br /><br />Gareth Williams ("Master Pieces" page 43): "[<span class="lw-text">...] continued in production until World War I.</span>"<br /><br />Alan Dewey: "<span class="lw-text">True (with Barleycorn decorations) Barleycorn, would not have been made before</span><span class="lw-text"> about 1800, as the lathe technology was not sufficiently well enough established, before then</span><span class="lw-text"> (using Holtzapfels dates as typical, although they were by no means the only firm producing</span><span class="lw-text"> these ornamental machines)</span>. [...] <span class="lw-text">...we can be fairly confident in dating most Barleycorns to the period, 1820-1920.</span>"<br /><br />There seems to exist a wide consensus that the ornamentally turned Barleycorn sets did not and could not appear before early 19th century. However, the question about the end of the Barleycorn era is more controversial. Different people offer dates from the mid-1800s to 1920.<br /><br />A number of carved Barleycorn sets exist. They might have been made earlier than the ornamentally turned sets.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Barleycorn parts</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Following name convention will be used to identify various parts of Barleycorn pieces. Base, stem, barrel and upper stem with finials usually unscrew.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgeTMVmtkWKAtCYk5JjyNjVE4bu4h5vwNpTtiC8F2L2TKPLAknc8zY7tAQ0_o1XhHM1azIYSkddM3-iXNGhYUWX4HHSoJkAb8ttNC7f7B2pDg2yBOG22lP-bBV2NH_qX6dSPa21CoHes/s1600-h/BC+partsMC.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgeTMVmtkWKAtCYk5JjyNjVE4bu4h5vwNpTtiC8F2L2TKPLAknc8zY7tAQ0_o1XhHM1azIYSkddM3-iXNGhYUWX4HHSoJkAb8ttNC7f7B2pDg2yBOG22lP-bBV2NH_qX6dSPa21CoHes/s400/BC+partsMC.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130104329528006882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Predecessors</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I do not believe in evolution of designs in the strict sense of the term. I do not want to say that new patterns were made by designers who took some old chess and deliberately tried to improve it (although that was so in some cases). By 'evolution' I mean a gradual manifestation of wider design trends in various chess set patterns. There were hundreds or even thousands of different designs around in 18th and 19th century and although gradual changes in various design elements are obvious, care should be taken to avoid the construction too narrow 'lines' of evolution or simplistic statements like <span style="font-style: italic;">Barleycorns evolved from Washington pattern and that's it</span>. That happens in animal kingdom but not in the world of design ideas and concepts.<br /></div><br />A number of 18th century sets have design elements similar to Barleycorn sets. Just a few examples:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGq_xIXA3nhmXQLMtIgeIre-ps9BB3WljfUokqn69uAVN9tWiLC-WdahsES3cP1nJZPZhXy1iw1SIu6oDz87kddLoOkvMgxfSme4A9WTRzakn1jsYrHpq9nS2_iFThOLQFPGDC9wDlIU/s1600-h/washington.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGq_xIXA3nhmXQLMtIgeIre-ps9BB3WljfUokqn69uAVN9tWiLC-WdahsES3cP1nJZPZhXy1iw1SIu6oDz87kddLoOkvMgxfSme4A9WTRzakn1jsYrHpq9nS2_iFThOLQFPGDC9wDlIU/s400/washington.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129368116298897554" border="0" /></a><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The set of George Washington (picture taken from the book of M. Liddell). The Washington pattern is named after this set.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2UeGCWZT8fw4BkjnTjKbOGSdrRfOLApXsYtznCYoiMmxsHQS4_Sl7suFap0EIvqlZS5_NRshHjX9q60o05OUMzrXZTcGEKx3No85Ob6gMJj_6UFYnqoa6ajp9SBHMvAfhEt4GAGdFKc/s1600-h/cook.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2UeGCWZT8fw4BkjnTjKbOGSdrRfOLApXsYtznCYoiMmxsHQS4_Sl7suFap0EIvqlZS5_NRshHjX9q60o05OUMzrXZTcGEKx3No85Ob6gMJj_6UFYnqoa6ajp9SBHMvAfhEt4GAGdFKc/s400/cook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129040852675843634" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ivory chess set owned by James Cook, 1770. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Similar Knights became a standard for Barleycorn sets early in the 19th century.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> <a href="http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/conMediaFile.1130/Ivory-chess-set-c-1770.html">National Maritime Museum</a>, London.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi2XW5qkZ9yZf8XB6lgc1x4aX-7XdJtVxVttXu-XeKWWxK_7Q3oUJ6i9lru8nixDt3RYd_i66IXLaXkuWk-VsLMLti9Y6e6stibBATQqjPrp1Qe42uOe8kfmwQPxLq_cpsVLJH2esT7o/s1600-h/round1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi2XW5qkZ9yZf8XB6lgc1x4aX-7XdJtVxVttXu-XeKWWxK_7Q3oUJ6i9lru8nixDt3RYd_i66IXLaXkuWk-VsLMLti9Y6e6stibBATQqjPrp1Qe42uOe8kfmwQPxLq_cpsVLJH2esT7o/s400/round1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129368889393010850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A late 18th century book depicting chessmen with massive but round barrels</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhLe6VDfGvkEDlFoa2-MThEvH5wARguBFYTRloBuSZpCAMkYwOoeN06DkRA4aEZA4UZ1G3SfXx5txFpo5N3xuu8By11r4_JR62WEWbwc9EmW7EuNRSpmqzyx1nwur3irBI7s0duNos7k/s1600-h/round2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhLe6VDfGvkEDlFoa2-MThEvH5wARguBFYTRloBuSZpCAMkYwOoeN06DkRA4aEZA4UZ1G3SfXx5txFpo5N3xuu8By11r4_JR62WEWbwc9EmW7EuNRSpmqzyx1nwur3irBI7s0duNos7k/s400/round2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129369134206146738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A round set from the 19th century</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_uravI3KQ2Uc5v8K92TtAbAqvfmezYnpzL1GxRgz9QzxdVGeq3zrRL7vPuLxzlGEtWCXUn2yXsRAezFzOX2Uiz96v9pe55WR3ZntbEQotMc23nk7-gqqLnL1q1UqY5B_35Dtt26Ull0/s1600-h/killarney.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_uravI3KQ2Uc5v8K92TtAbAqvfmezYnpzL1GxRgz9QzxdVGeq3zrRL7vPuLxzlGEtWCXUn2yXsRAezFzOX2Uiz96v9pe55WR3ZntbEQotMc23nk7-gqqLnL1q1UqY5B_35Dtt26Ull0/s400/killarney.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130004304034650306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Early Killarney set with large and ringed but not cylindrical barrels. Image scanned from Mike Darlow's "Turned Chessmen", Polumbaum Collection.</span><br /><br /></div> For an illustrated article about the evolution of British chess sets with many more examples, see <a href="http://www.geocities.com/dermot_rochford/Antique_English_Chess_Sets.htm">Antique English Chess Sets</a> by Dermot Rochford.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Decorations of the barrel</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) True Barleycorn decoration</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkzH3JB2GyUZIKlgz9IZV2aZEh3wdp6pssZ-V6M8GivViTzTXwerTPYuAnxpxGXG4FycRXb7GsszgPzQQPlgzZfg6LNTcH9xDOtCqj5L5IkHoGPKOkP7rvf-FfIUJbUmZmd-7CMWO5SI/s1600-h/BC+grain.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkzH3JB2GyUZIKlgz9IZV2aZEh3wdp6pssZ-V6M8GivViTzTXwerTPYuAnxpxGXG4FycRXb7GsszgPzQQPlgzZfg6LNTcH9xDOtCqj5L5IkHoGPKOkP7rvf-FfIUJbUmZmd-7CMWO5SI/s400/BC+grain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129046968709273154" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ivory King and Queen with grain-like decoration<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The body of this type of sets is decorated with ornamental turning resembling barley grain. In rare cases, such decoration can be seen on Rooks, too.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIXAyujOnmn__C9QI766BtDnGE1zamg9KFO-12lAuIRD0o1Fuf2dMUm7SY9LnCsKs5UDO83ffiiyNr10l2WyDWgyy54rugYlYsLtvfG4OkRSeOMd0OYJ-UEmUimhDC_qkFUoC1BuTakM/s1600-h/BC+ear.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIXAyujOnmn__C9QI766BtDnGE1zamg9KFO-12lAuIRD0o1Fuf2dMUm7SY9LnCsKs5UDO83ffiiyNr10l2WyDWgyy54rugYlYsLtvfG4OkRSeOMd0OYJ-UEmUimhDC_qkFUoC1BuTakM/s400/BC+ear.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129058161394046578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A closeup of deeper ear-like decorations on a True Barleycorn King.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Another type of True Barleycorn decoration resembles a barley ear warped around the barrel of the piece. In my opinion, these designs match the name of the family best and should be considered classic.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Yc7LLQ7htThUfv3cNEdGm6w1OINEpn5jESKOuWIaeMKP6u4Nn7gVrTvzCIWQSh45ptirmdn4UQTDpYS7qHbJvfiJroo0bdsoPc2zY7Nuq911oMShNmehu6EN2WCVvjkFFR5xA9RpTEY/s1600-h/barley+ear.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Yc7LLQ7htThUfv3cNEdGm6w1OINEpn5jESKOuWIaeMKP6u4Nn7gVrTvzCIWQSh45ptirmdn4UQTDpYS7qHbJvfiJroo0bdsoPc2zY7Nuq911oMShNmehu6EN2WCVvjkFFR5xA9RpTEY/s400/barley+ear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129059754826913410" border="0" /></a></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ears of modern 2-row barley and 6-row bere<br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMFXxV71YgbdtWgdsnOUVAUjQYY4q6a0NGUG41prEPBSEM0qxuFVDWT-hv29Ifz7pweckeWgXX1kpiBEwAD7y4NqUryhqxvLWCLY97wCoX5ZsRF8PolSDq-6QN2xh_lVQBD19aBQ6Gfo/s1600-h/BC+ear+down.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMFXxV71YgbdtWgdsnOUVAUjQYY4q6a0NGUG41prEPBSEM0qxuFVDWT-hv29Ifz7pweckeWgXX1kpiBEwAD7y4NqUryhqxvLWCLY97wCoX5ZsRF8PolSDq-6QN2xh_lVQBD19aBQ6Gfo/s400/BC+ear+down.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129062361872062098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Unusual case where ears point downwards</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Barley leaf decoration<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvodcYSfgUPHfZTyQGnD72NawHTcxZnkxqL5uHRDPt7-nm9BZ9yN4B1TIUHqarLyq8LStmGYKeip3UxCyl_LsssHR-FlaFZQ9bn9YLET74r9EGSWG0EJ7PKEV8WUN1vPrUum_qJqyy5yM/s1600-h/BC+thin+leaves.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvodcYSfgUPHfZTyQGnD72NawHTcxZnkxqL5uHRDPt7-nm9BZ9yN4B1TIUHqarLyq8LStmGYKeip3UxCyl_LsssHR-FlaFZQ9bn9YLET74r9EGSWG0EJ7PKEV8WUN1vPrUum_qJqyy5yM/s400/BC+thin+leaves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129053303786034770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Major pieces with foliate decoration<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Some people see barley leaves here. I do not want to argue.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg74qFPGuy8DurzdQ_QPIQ5WmQuSQUuo38ugL11f0njH0i0p9dvBfqJY5A-_tePsyaYKYwknvuy64dMjr9mXbF_-4ROHLxjC-5busd0fNRbCzwSu8NNmqx_OuTLp5ua8xRfrCpdP9jqi0/s1600-h/barley+leaves.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg74qFPGuy8DurzdQ_QPIQ5WmQuSQUuo38ugL11f0njH0i0p9dvBfqJY5A-_tePsyaYKYwknvuy64dMjr9mXbF_-4ROHLxjC-5busd0fNRbCzwSu8NNmqx_OuTLp5ua8xRfrCpdP9jqi0/s400/barley+leaves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129055726147589730" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Barley leaves<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3) Rope decoration<br /><br /></span><span>This is a non-foliate decoration, usually seen on the edges of the barrel of royal pieces and sometimes on Rooks, too. In many cases, all rings on the barrel have been turned this way.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIdat2aEpc_kTetszCZq1sTkVsLD-WvTBp57zCBAOXOIqDHsMzTlzkwJIsiJjaGao5qXQKOMlg1P7VfhqRC3h10g7muIRd4wEeeCx2YrPllGFbfLrVjWkQKj5Tg_YdPLF45FfPbvToDU/s1600-h/BC+rope.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIdat2aEpc_kTetszCZq1sTkVsLD-WvTBp57zCBAOXOIqDHsMzTlzkwJIsiJjaGao5qXQKOMlg1P7VfhqRC3h10g7muIRd4wEeeCx2YrPllGFbfLrVjWkQKj5Tg_YdPLF45FfPbvToDU/s400/BC+rope.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129067941034579618" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A closeup view of rope-decorated royal piece.</span><br /></div><br /><br />If the decoration runs around the center of the piece body then it is sometimes hard to tell if the carving should be called Rope or Barley Ear.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IqcCWd3vAFYdfW-LXNdr_GOlPG9wxdxBBf_oy6a20bbyEzndqwavbo2q6l7gdFH-dzHSQFEBjdTmys1uHSXZWpsp-_wiCUuYD0ySr9GSxqK_8dDdlMdpXMzFCwvuJkQuxUyZ9wfUGs4/s1600-h/BC+rope+or+ear1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IqcCWd3vAFYdfW-LXNdr_GOlPG9wxdxBBf_oy6a20bbyEzndqwavbo2q6l7gdFH-dzHSQFEBjdTmys1uHSXZWpsp-_wiCUuYD0ySr9GSxqK_8dDdlMdpXMzFCwvuJkQuxUyZ9wfUGs4/s400/BC+rope+or+ear1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129070870202275506" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I think that this decoration depictures a fine-grained barley ear. Note how the finial of the King is decorated with general, neutral leaves.</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1wVFapy54a6IA9P6-5YY42WpmiznvlOfS0el7owJKFWsTyZm1SJPYQc0vkD_MVntLt2LKxZ9b7_onwWQYHuAcPxNAXURsC_-Zgnys7pTkhJ9aRwUNR0b68v959Fevqs2-YYtqMR4C1I/s1600-h/BC+rope+or+ear.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1wVFapy54a6IA9P6-5YY42WpmiznvlOfS0el7owJKFWsTyZm1SJPYQc0vkD_MVntLt2LKxZ9b7_onwWQYHuAcPxNAXURsC_-Zgnys7pTkhJ9aRwUNR0b68v959Fevqs2-YYtqMR4C1I/s400/BC+rope+or+ear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129071785030309570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But I am not so sure about this one. Very finely grained & not very well done barley ear or two ropes with opposite twists? Yes, it did sell for £1000 hammer price at auction but that's another story.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4) Acanthus decoration<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>Another plant which has been used for decorating chess sets is acanthus. The trouble with them is that acanthus leaves cannot be turned like ropes or leaves or ears which run around the piece.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JF8MsuTNsMrtFQnfYBE7GDk0rDPH7OQS5l_NAQTz73I4DlrLVJw-TtkCKugpaBizRk6b_VorYWEVXiQhAzJpvWvmJwhRRmvVAOXTQUA0TVetJklOy76nJIKaKyGsxnnfxuvobA4Zlao/s1600-h/BC+acanthus.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JF8MsuTNsMrtFQnfYBE7GDk0rDPH7OQS5l_NAQTz73I4DlrLVJw-TtkCKugpaBizRk6b_VorYWEVXiQhAzJpvWvmJwhRRmvVAOXTQUA0TVetJklOy76nJIKaKyGsxnnfxuvobA4Zlao/s400/BC+acanthus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129077724970079954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The King is decorated with acanthus leaves. All pieces are richly decorated; we will get back to this.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Acanthus ornament has been used as decorative elements from the days of Ancient Greeks. I will provide a picture of modern fountain which closely resembles the chess pieces above.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YO-IENX-A39pVo1gmyAZXQK8pGwIQjJ1EKaCgBvxBzGxCVWFp99sn0yhtFrj9BX5dWJJD72bgEihp7q-nzJSwhqn8T6jxgMVsw2g1kqiAnYpI-2yrqIXhhINETt0JtyizSPHg3TdGlo/s1600-h/acanthus+fountain.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YO-IENX-A39pVo1gmyAZXQK8pGwIQjJ1EKaCgBvxBzGxCVWFp99sn0yhtFrj9BX5dWJJD72bgEihp7q-nzJSwhqn8T6jxgMVsw2g1kqiAnYpI-2yrqIXhhINETt0JtyizSPHg3TdGlo/s400/acanthus+fountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129079498791573218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A fountain with Acanthus ornament<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5) Leafed decoration<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZK6uO3q1lnOnLJGInCx_FuRywrKxVmgwS8y-NzepUFbgRiU_ThfCU34ARcyiicKMEGjjjbXMfwwDhVpEodLZEoIwASyXg-u0zfrhxBcdaawju5wSi3e9BT6x1CCzvad5I-r8St7kbnc/s1600-h/BC+leaves.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZK6uO3q1lnOnLJGInCx_FuRywrKxVmgwS8y-NzepUFbgRiU_ThfCU34ARcyiicKMEGjjjbXMfwwDhVpEodLZEoIwASyXg-u0zfrhxBcdaawju5wSi3e9BT6x1CCzvad5I-r8St7kbnc/s400/BC+leaves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129084910450366194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Some people see the whole Barley plant here. I see just general, neutral leaves.</span><br /></div></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6) Jaques 10<br /><br /></span>The whole barrel is not ringed but covered with alternating rectangles resembling chessboard or ragged brick wall.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFKiyXXJw9P-ezFF8X1f7SUxzZezlQhMO6592cui2UNR1XpplIaA7wTDAi1YiOx8XtWO4gd6Bs6HFdbvHQ4y1VCfIj9rdDND3MMAW2X7yhexAzQuTIbcMwGCdSgyhVVfHcujxea9dN7M/s1600-h/BC+CB.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFKiyXXJw9P-ezFF8X1f7SUxzZezlQhMO6592cui2UNR1XpplIaA7wTDAi1YiOx8XtWO4gd6Bs6HFdbvHQ4y1VCfIj9rdDND3MMAW2X7yhexAzQuTIbcMwGCdSgyhVVfHcujxea9dN7M/s400/BC+CB.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130064137224050898" border="0" /></a><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">J. Jaques turning book page 4, left column, 4th figure from top. Picture taken from Darlow's "Turned Chessmen".<br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div> </div> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Actually it seems to me that this pattern is for ivory sets. This needs to be sorted out.<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7) Plain sets</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEPfoUWtPuaaq5bdf0t1zATk6wiQLQAgbLTRCk_x4-XpZSjxyhZLhjZtLxVihl34WPk9mb1LcU-uSAg8RnLmIIxfAzvEb8QyYP87KqhXqqo4crR0B1LSx5XmwX4rbh6u5jPRvFNVkHfc/s1600-h/BC+plain.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEPfoUWtPuaaq5bdf0t1zATk6wiQLQAgbLTRCk_x4-XpZSjxyhZLhjZtLxVihl34WPk9mb1LcU-uSAg8RnLmIIxfAzvEb8QyYP87KqhXqqo4crR0B1LSx5XmwX4rbh6u5jPRvFNVkHfc/s400/BC+plain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129087457365972738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The majority of BC sets come without any decoration at all.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stems and bases</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Usually Barleycorn sets come with round or onion-shaped stems, threaded in the best sets. However, some exceptions exist.<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Yfb1Sge7Dp1sFCPSg0qw2koIUtUgDaFneKlKXfPdQmkKXN7Co_xqR9Ua3KMyBAF1RRov1bPqGgNMtUWiOh_9TWF6aEmY7DGhOqvDTGZViieFekp-eqMdWMYcLUj17qkFdbrEbIhdKDA/s1600-h/BC+ringed.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Yfb1Sge7Dp1sFCPSg0qw2koIUtUgDaFneKlKXfPdQmkKXN7Co_xqR9Ua3KMyBAF1RRov1bPqGgNMtUWiOh_9TWF6aEmY7DGhOqvDTGZViieFekp-eqMdWMYcLUj17qkFdbrEbIhdKDA/s400/BC+ringed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129301707514566626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A set with True Barleycorn decoration and ringed stems. The rings are repeated in every piece. Ringed stems are not particularily rare, although not common.<br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">It is important to note that urn-like stems are characteristic to Washington pattern, NOT Barleycorn pattern.<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;">The bases are usually plain. However, the edges of good set stems are often "cogged". The fanciest bases are called Van Dyke bases.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qLRPgl0VoblBqZV9BXQoL2JaHxVIsqliPP11eTKdg-_PAMBXUf-VbzhPwZnymSXReHeM76Ldn6nZSXJf6O2gKs9SSCuyWCQ2bQzZ-qJXqV3716YzzL6CnqmNvPxJBVD2qx6UUhDI8y0/s1600-h/van+dyke+base.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qLRPgl0VoblBqZV9BXQoL2JaHxVIsqliPP11eTKdg-_PAMBXUf-VbzhPwZnymSXReHeM76Ldn6nZSXJf6O2gKs9SSCuyWCQ2bQzZ-qJXqV3716YzzL6CnqmNvPxJBVD2qx6UUhDI8y0/s400/van+dyke+base.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129305268042455026" border="0" /></a></div> </div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A Van Dyke base</span></span><br /></div> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />English subpatterns</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Cogged Crown</span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4erBwOSD4hlfZ8WJbEoJlomsSdwr70wDgmiVDOuBhe6UYXLbluMCAEUGFaepJwsQ163WhdX94dU6cCK1BqMh5pffWT2ElONF2Oy9VGdYag88z3llMxdEsu0NKDHBmcGQdG0J4Y6tk48/s1600-h/BC+CC.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4erBwOSD4hlfZ8WJbEoJlomsSdwr70wDgmiVDOuBhe6UYXLbluMCAEUGFaepJwsQ163WhdX94dU6cCK1BqMh5pffWT2ElONF2Oy9VGdYag88z3llMxdEsu0NKDHBmcGQdG0J4Y6tk48/s400/BC+CC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129091060843534098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kings: cogged crown finials and True Barleycorn or Plain ornamentation around barrel. In good sets, other sections have non-foliate ornamentation.<br />Queens: ball finials and True Barleycorn or Plain ornamentation. In good sets, other sections have non-foliate ornamentation.<br />Rooks: turreted towers. In good sets with flag finials and decorated ribbons around pieces.<br />Bishops: closed mitres, in good sets with non-foliate decoration.<br />Knights: horse heads, in good sets with non-foliate decoration.<br />Pawns: ball finials.<br /><br />In good sets, all bases are cogged.<br /><br />This is the classic and very common Barleycorn subpattern. Usually small to medium size sets (up to 11,4 cm). Made of bone.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Fountain Crown (Flower Crown)<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQrwP90DnvYtwkuEMwEIqg10hJTLqcx16v5uZaSL02KAAqlc9w1hzeCSePGMsOpyYqqekoddpZRpqxgeKPP6WgQVpfmW316oBy8JdBhfezp0Vjp6PaxhQDbsVYBYKW-nvEmWpFu2Y8X8/s1600-h/BC+FC.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQrwP90DnvYtwkuEMwEIqg10hJTLqcx16v5uZaSL02KAAqlc9w1hzeCSePGMsOpyYqqekoddpZRpqxgeKPP6WgQVpfmW316oBy8JdBhfezp0Vjp6PaxhQDbsVYBYKW-nvEmWpFu2Y8X8/s400/BC+FC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129095506134685474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kings: Fountain Crown finials, True Barleycorn, Rope, Leaf or Plain decoration around barrel. In good sets, crowns with foliate decoration (Flower Crown) and other sections with non-foliate decoration.<br />Queens: tuft finials, True Barleycorn, Rope, Leaf or Plain decoration around barrel. In good sets, other sections with non-foliate decoration.<br />Rooks: turreted towers usually with flag finials, sometimes ball finials. In good sets with flag finials and decorated ribbons around pieces.<br />Bishops: closed mitres, in good sets with non-foliate decoration.<br />Knights: horse heads, in good sets with non-foliate decoration.<br />Pawns: ball finials.<br /><br />In good sets, all bases are cogged.<br /><br />This is the classic and very common Barleycorn subpattern for large size sets (up to 15,2 cm). Made of bone.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3) Stretched</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ELIibcGs-DFyoP6SuD7TQjDJ-hHPnU8qXgoRmHjRiRVtyW_rcBECQ_7OQMBvkeElNKcUBaA6W9szPjIPtCXa-vE6BonZEF79xw_K8ce8KVSEb1SYm3pqcxPLbIxWy1XiPvhV6P1qeoE/s1600-h/BC+Str.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ELIibcGs-DFyoP6SuD7TQjDJ-hHPnU8qXgoRmHjRiRVtyW_rcBECQ_7OQMBvkeElNKcUBaA6W9szPjIPtCXa-vE6BonZEF79xw_K8ce8KVSEb1SYm3pqcxPLbIxWy1XiPvhV6P1qeoE/s400/BC+Str.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129100350857795378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kings: Imperial Crown finials, Plain decoration, rarely downright ears.<br />Queens: tuft finials, Plain decoration, rarely downright ears.<br />Rooks: turreted towers usually with flag finials, sometimes with ball finials.<br />Bishops: very long round-topped open mitres.<br />Knights: horse heads.<br />Pawns: ball finials.<br /><br />Another common pattern for larger sets (10-14 cm), easily recognizable for stretched Bishop finials. Usually without decoration. Made of bone.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4) Maltese Cross</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaMUWQBmNF-ejfAEZ25exqVsY8qNcPvI3526oWwx4OfLpjDFOB7KzP8dbCknKbZ1A5Z26mLbk5ngGXOErLfulPeNkYyeQDgqapFmjjAPtVpQBJnFSX3vL-VjJKe0psUkjOmXnXQugzO4/s1600-h/BC+MC.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaMUWQBmNF-ejfAEZ25exqVsY8qNcPvI3526oWwx4OfLpjDFOB7KzP8dbCknKbZ1A5Z26mLbk5ngGXOErLfulPeNkYyeQDgqapFmjjAPtVpQBJnFSX3vL-VjJKe0psUkjOmXnXQugzO4/s400/BC+MC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129103580673201986" border="0" /></a><br />Kings: Imperial Crown and Maltese cross finials, True Barleycorn, Leaved or Rope decoration around barrel. In the best sets, foliate decoration is repeated on the ball under the crown and other parts have non-foliate decoration.<br />Queens: ball or feather finials in good sets, True Barleycorn, Leaved or Rope decoration around barrel. In the best sets, foliate decoration is repeated on the ball under the crown and other parts have non-foliate decoration.<br />Rooks: turreted towers with cannon towers and flag finials, sometimes with decorative ribbons around the pieces.<br />Bishops: open mitres, sometimes with non-foliate decoration.<br />Knights: horse heads, sometimes with reigns.<br />Pawns: ball finials.<br /><br />This is the pattern for high-end large (10-14 cm) bone sets. They are sometimes associated with the famous name of Charles Hastilow.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5) Acanthus<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzZVj9Gd3BSv4iuNlKL7tkKvbooH-2Fly2cDnNkrz9tsElE-qeBDmCp9DLRV__5dKPbsxI5sP1-ysPchP4SvBouzuesT-Q63o79LyH91tbOZFI6yCCyWwlezMUJhBnxpQFXuxVEJA8PM/s1600-h/BC+Ac.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzZVj9Gd3BSv4iuNlKL7tkKvbooH-2Fly2cDnNkrz9tsElE-qeBDmCp9DLRV__5dKPbsxI5sP1-ysPchP4SvBouzuesT-Q63o79LyH91tbOZFI6yCCyWwlezMUJhBnxpQFXuxVEJA8PM/s400/BC+Ac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129114665983792994" border="0" /></a><br />Kings: Imperial Crown and Maltese cross finials, usually Acanthus, sometimes other foliate decoration around barrel. Other parts have non-foliate decoration.<br />Queens: taft finials, usually Acanthus, sometimes other foliate decoration around barrel. Other parts have non-foliate decoration.<br />Rooks: turreted towers with cannon towers and flag finials, bricked bodies and decorative carvings on other parts.<br />Bishops: open mitres with non-foliate decoration.<br />Knights: well carved horse heads with spectacular manes.<br />Pawns: ball finials.<br /><br />Van Dyke bases.<br /><br />Another high-level pattern for larger bone sets, easily recognizable by Acanthus decoration and specific Knights.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6) Ivory<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_bP_fAvnHSod7AylB8KcVoMnpnE5jwmVEOJrXdnZ6tDMgM72PMoUQu5zt2leYrLNd6Y6nbtgBe1xYkNzKC_eUwYbodgH6GMyzwh6nwyMdYHfjoSB_DTDiSX7hUoJR7QnHDlE5Rnk_lY/s1600-h/BC+Iy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_bP_fAvnHSod7AylB8KcVoMnpnE5jwmVEOJrXdnZ6tDMgM72PMoUQu5zt2leYrLNd6Y6nbtgBe1xYkNzKC_eUwYbodgH6GMyzwh6nwyMdYHfjoSB_DTDiSX7hUoJR7QnHDlE5Rnk_lY/s400/BC+Iy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129116036078360434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Barleycorn world is generally made of bone. However, a certain number of ivory sets with similar foliate decorations exist. Ivory sets without foliate decorations are never called Barleycorn.<br /><br />Ivory BC pieces have usually the following characteristics.<br /><br />Kings: Imperial Crown and Maltese cross finials, True Barleycorn or Leaf decoration around the barrel. Other parts have non-foliate decoration.<br />Queens: ball, taft or feather finials, True Barleycorn or Leaf decoration around the barrel. Other parts have non-foliate decoration.<br />Rooks: turreted towers with stems and flag finials.<br />Bishops: mitres with non-foliate decoration.<br />Knights: horse heads, sometimes with reigns.<br />Pawns: ball finials.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Non-English subpatterns</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Plain Nurenberg (Plain German)</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Barleycorn design was used in the continental Europe as well. The design believed to have been originated from Germany has clearly different proportions than English sets. The round sectionsand Rooks look shorter. Another different feature is the sawed-out Knight which appears in many Continental designs, including Selenus. Rook Flag finials are not used.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9dGvenexa_IHFh9a7XeNoYuzTA5d1erFa7Mb-qT9YWMUCSKkn1Q8udBsKBjQGcCO6sfl8tBKkF2TD6-CwYlvfZKeDHQi-wZ_UBKsQwnS8biC9jOcvla0F0yp8Ea4M4WFfyH-GoQ4WHA/s1600-h/small.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9dGvenexa_IHFh9a7XeNoYuzTA5d1erFa7Mb-qT9YWMUCSKkn1Q8udBsKBjQGcCO6sfl8tBKkF2TD6-CwYlvfZKeDHQi-wZ_UBKsQwnS8biC9jOcvla0F0yp8Ea4M4WFfyH-GoQ4WHA/s400/small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129311959601502210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Plain German (Nurenberg Barleycorn) chess set<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;">The design varies greatly. It was also made in wood.<br /></div> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) German Skirted Barleycorn<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_NCrc2tHOxXWZmKlpF4Yryp2v57I_aLIoCSD4MMBGwvwjS4_emzaRsfbO6fdk2vJY3yGC5cGnXntV6Yhdj3a7mctxniltjbx04n1rMzoXF7RnZBQeQsZulC6-yAl9Ku9ge6Ek5oNJy8/s1600-h/BC+skirted.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_NCrc2tHOxXWZmKlpF4Yryp2v57I_aLIoCSD4MMBGwvwjS4_emzaRsfbO6fdk2vJY3yGC5cGnXntV6Yhdj3a7mctxniltjbx04n1rMzoXF7RnZBQeQsZulC6-yAl9Ku9ge6Ek5oNJy8/s400/BC+skirted.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129314764215146514" border="0" /></a><br />Kings: Spiked coronet finial, plain decoration around the barrel and "skirted" carvings on it's lower edge.<br />Queens: pointed finials, plain decoration around the barrel and "skirted" carvings on it's lower edge.<br />Rooks: turreted towers with ball finials.<br />Bishops: short mitres and urn-like stems.<br />Knights: horse heads and ringed stems.<br />Pawns: pointed finials and urn-like stems.<br /><br />This is a quite well established pattern and both urn-like and ringed stems are correct for this sort of a set. They were produced in early 19th century and do not need an ornamental lathe to make.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3) Pierced<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VtjfAdwDxjSUZzEeTZ-HoKZbATZPJPqUgpa12Tdo_IMX84-qWgRcC0GdcZ53xFA5QQErTHHK9vHkWsDhyphenhyphenLSyhH3lVc5axHzm_O_X-CKq_k8uC80HsMFKS-TL4f3KGgcHbXGYejssoEg/s1600-h/BC+pierced.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VtjfAdwDxjSUZzEeTZ-HoKZbATZPJPqUgpa12Tdo_IMX84-qWgRcC0GdcZ53xFA5QQErTHHK9vHkWsDhyphenhyphenLSyhH3lVc5axHzm_O_X-CKq_k8uC80HsMFKS-TL4f3KGgcHbXGYejssoEg/s400/BC+pierced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129319119311984674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kings: Imperial crown and Maltese cross finials, pierced barrel.<br />Queens: Imperial crown finials, pierced barrel.<br />Rooks: turreted towers with Maltese cross finials.<br />Bishops: short and flat-ended mitres.<br />Knights: sawed-out horse heads.<br />Pawns: pointed finials.<br /><br />All pieces with plain bases and urn-like stems.<br /><br />Another well-established German pattern. Does not need an ornamental lathe as well.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />4) Little Faces<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-54ylKjExmal3xDEyZCcb3gJnbFkpwlXOqaTa1MUbkswMlrJIH-s3CkQFcBP1PoHIn5yXTngqqOL32KvZsD2ayWNf7usluqAn6m29q6BCvsePQrz1bEWr2exLALtNl7-DCJ-7j9YFo4/s1600-h/little+faces.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-54ylKjExmal3xDEyZCcb3gJnbFkpwlXOqaTa1MUbkswMlrJIH-s3CkQFcBP1PoHIn5yXTngqqOL32KvZsD2ayWNf7usluqAn6m29q6BCvsePQrz1bEWr2exLALtNl7-DCJ-7j9YFo4/s400/little+faces.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129323482998757426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kings: Royal face finials, Leaf decorations around barrel, non-foliate carvings around other parts.<br />Queens: Royal face finials, Leaf decorations around barrel, non-foliate carvings around other parts.<br />Rooks: turreted towers with cannon tower and halfmoon finials.<br />Bishops: flower finials with non-foliate decorations around other parts.<br />Knights: well-carved horse heads with non-foliate decorations around other parts.<br />Pawns: pointed finials.<br /><br />A Barleycorn version of German "Little faces" high-end design, also used with other patterns.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Conclusion<br /><br /></span></span>'Barleycorn' term has been applied to a variety of chess sets and has lost it's original meaning long ago. The royal pieces are decorated with ears, barley leaves, acanthus leaves, general leaves, rope twist, ragged bricks or just ringed. German sets might be even pierced. I am sure that there are some rare decorations left out from the list provided above.<br /><br />There seems to exist a wide consensus that chess sets should be labeled Barleycorn by the general shape of the pieces, not by some particular way to decorate a ribbon around barrel of some royal piece.<br /><br />The barrel should be considerably stouter than the neck and finials. Slim ringed sets as the following example are often listed as 'Barleycorn' by auction houses. I think that is not right because no slim bone sets with any foliate decoration exist (there are some with Rope decoration, though). If there were slim sets with foliate decorations, then in my opinion only these should be called 'Barleycorn' as in the case of ivory sets.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eatbzguj4mgUjYBPPNEEXpkMcq5x08TsKa8zh0egS7XMjl4bcQMvETjjUAPKMOamQJbSNY_KMf648B7PJ1wes0tOc7zjslPUWBs5lHLL_6Ee-3eZDHL3V1jd_RXa_aDbTYLk4HjOLgg/s1600-h/slim.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eatbzguj4mgUjYBPPNEEXpkMcq5x08TsKa8zh0egS7XMjl4bcQMvETjjUAPKMOamQJbSNY_KMf648B7PJ1wes0tOc7zjslPUWBs5lHLL_6Ee-3eZDHL3V1jd_RXa_aDbTYLk4HjOLgg/s400/slim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129356610081511554" border="0" /></a><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eatbzguj4mgUjYBPPNEEXpkMcq5x08TsKa8zh0egS7XMjl4bcQMvETjjUAPKMOamQJbSNY_KMf648B7PJ1wes0tOc7zjslPUWBs5lHLL_6Ee-3eZDHL3V1jd_RXa_aDbTYLk4HjOLgg/s1600-h/slim.jpg"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Slim English playing set. Evolved from Captain Cook pattern?<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;">I think that following characteristics should be common to and required from the whole family:<br />1) existence of base, stem, barrel, upper stem and finials in Royal pieces;<br />2) massive cylindrical barrels, stouter than finials, about as wide as bases;<br />3) stout Rooks without stems in bone sets;<br />4) foliate decoration around barrels of ivory royal pieces.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-40006853499478019492007-08-26T04:46:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:14:55.599-08:00Ivory pieces from an Indian set<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydXF1DgExfmsvHu01x3XlFM0gBi0i96a-NLnK-ekYudTD-SxbnOZfYXIBB5IUC9IgcCcsSsnItvhdrmP_ekgC8GjAeQem2-PWkOQEYhL8o4K_jUQ6IQZtNjOzVjZ0GiBQ2o4q11LTXSU/s400/1st+lot+some+pieces+small.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105918185942867762" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: center;">Superior pieces from an ivory part set. Most probably of Indian manufacture from around 1820. The Queens are 9 cm tall. Unfortunately neither of the Kings have survived.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YrxOBQlim_36e7LkwqsBajOpmsbHfI4wYbfgVAcSeDHASk04dMWQaCe4K3wCa63xgVM9KnhEBnZveCHtpLUhamBER0ZkVgFH-uc-gf9vi-ZupELUPBkjyhVITJRVDxkoQn3MDGXi4S0/s1600-h/underside.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YrxOBQlim_36e7LkwqsBajOpmsbHfI4wYbfgVAcSeDHASk04dMWQaCe4K3wCa63xgVM9KnhEBnZveCHtpLUhamBER0ZkVgFH-uc-gf9vi-ZupELUPBkjyhVITJRVDxkoQn3MDGXi4S0/s200/underside.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105962170702946242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj9k6Y5SkYAskRQEn0wcdJDWHWUnRC33K8m7vJqh66qM0M6I28JByfz171zPv6Bi105rzjRZ6MCC7ce7qyejgy62W2u4HB9yeQuk7POZYooENpV0srkH-SRdgZpNOmJE7Pkyy0CyEdsU/s1600-h/upperside1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj9k6Y5SkYAskRQEn0wcdJDWHWUnRC33K8m7vJqh66qM0M6I28JByfz171zPv6Bi105rzjRZ6MCC7ce7qyejgy62W2u4HB9yeQuk7POZYooENpV0srkH-SRdgZpNOmJE7Pkyy0CyEdsU/s200/upperside1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105961968839483314" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;">All pieces are monobloc, including Rooks with round bases and rectangular bodies. Turning holes can be seen in the both ends of pieces.<br /></div> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A similar set can be seen on the page of House of Staunton:<br /><a href="http://www.chessantiques.com/Indian&Oriental/tn/pages/ChinesePlayingPcsR.htm">full set</a> and <a href="http://www.chessantiques.com/Indian&Oriental/tn/pages/ChinesePlayingKQB.htm">a close view of some pieces</a>.<br /></div> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJr7dxyIrTaMe1kyiLCP9L0Gm48I85_HAc_QMBNrfQ6vIH_-y3Z1icOyW57_elDNkGxOFbRFB0qaqueGD-K3qo_0hmf143hLNFnePEE8SZNsbWpM3E94ZOIfydJ3dVcGBBWrJEcRIM88/s1600-h/img477.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJr7dxyIrTaMe1kyiLCP9L0Gm48I85_HAc_QMBNrfQ6vIH_-y3Z1icOyW57_elDNkGxOFbRFB0qaqueGD-K3qo_0hmf143hLNFnePEE8SZNsbWpM3E94ZOIfydJ3dVcGBBWrJEcRIM88/s400/img477.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105960100528709506" border="0" /></a>Another such set was auctioned as a part of the Ettore Chiesa Collection at Christie's. See lot #90 in the catalogue.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Both these are of smaller size than my pieces.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-64525264654985910582007-08-14T00:32:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:14:55.764-08:00A year of collecting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-qYnaIiM6Pxo0MsnGOSseM2KNo5d2shkiWNoqLuCO7hDneqgRNzwvS-rvpdFPNiB-jEFg5zqdmtOa3_LjDnMmslWgfs8CsP6g8UjIm97Jm3DXYN9wGLGJR1upLD_mt7es3hwG1VTbEY/s1600-h/chess_clock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-qYnaIiM6Pxo0MsnGOSseM2KNo5d2shkiWNoqLuCO7hDneqgRNzwvS-rvpdFPNiB-jEFg5zqdmtOa3_LjDnMmslWgfs8CsP6g8UjIm97Jm3DXYN9wGLGJR1upLD_mt7es3hwG1VTbEY/s200/chess_clock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098477370566372754" border="0" /></a><br />I have been collecting a little more than a year for now. A few things to say:<br /><br />First, I have come to conclusion that I do not want to amass a great quantity of sets. I will try to keep the number below 30. Right now it is 15 or so. I will eventually sell sets which do not give me the jolt of joy any more. These sets will disappear from this blog as well. Every collector has to make decisions like that and my decision is to have only these pieces which I really, really like (if affordable, of course). This site will therefore remain relatively small but I hope that you will still like it :)<br /><br />Second, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Alan Dewey the chess set restorer, <a href="http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/jonchess.htm">Jon Crumiller</a>, <span class="lw-text">Floyd Sarisohn and other people from eBay Chess Collectors group (organized in the most smooth and friendly way by </span><span class="lw-text">Robert van der Veur</span><span class="lw-text">) for many words of valuable advice.<br /><br />Third, most of my sets have come from eBay. I have had experience with only one complete fraudster during that year. The average John B. Ebayer is generally honest although he can be a weasel from time to time. Care must be taken to avoid outright con men, though. <a href="http://anonymouschesscollector.blogspot.com/2007/06/advise-to-novice-ebayers.html">One of my previous postings</a> was about that topic.<br /><br />The popularity of chess collecting seems to be on rise and spreading over the world. EBay is a great resource but nothing can beat great chess auctions where the collectors from all over the world gather. The latest of this kind was the auction of the collection of late Dr. Cholet at Christie's held in this spring. <a href="http://www.bloomsburyauctions.com/">Bloomsbury's</a> auction house carries out chess auctions periodically, being the only major auction house to do so. The catalogues of these events are very much worth studying. <a href="http://www.liveauctioneers.com/">Liveauctioneers.com</a> website features information about many past auctions and can be used for price comparision. Auction houses usually provide free price range estimates which might be useful, too.<br /><br />Fourth, as we are living in the first decades of the Information age, I really hope that more and more collectors consider putting up a webpage. Blog software is an easy solution but might not be suitable for larger collections. I work as an IT professional and I would be delighted to provide advice in the World Wide Web matters. For instance, the <a href="http://www.obs.ee/cgi-bin/Zope.cgi/chess/knowledge_base">Chess Collector's Knowledge Base</a> might be used to house individual collections, too. Please leave a wish to contact to the comments section and I will contact you.<br /><br />Thanks for your kind attention :)<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-65659909766207141202007-06-16T04:45:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:15:01.736-08:00Advice to novice eBayersMost of my chess sets have been bought from eBay. There are some common traps to fall in which seem to keep appearing for ever. I hope that the following suggestions might be useful for people who have not bought collectables from eBay before.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. DO NOT BUY CHINESE CRAP<br /></span>Let us start with the most simple case.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOYxVsSsqHn-r92UXihbbUqboUtPA-OIG3aXlpXfQ0saz0Fo9AmS1tTESRpkPk1PvAagjtxR11M2rgwTevg-Zabj8OzAGK7jX-efnE4vHY2kc4QTrwq-kZGqMgtCWCh5kbfbGT9Sq0i8/s1600-h/07.02.09040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076629058721159826" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOYxVsSsqHn-r92UXihbbUqboUtPA-OIG3aXlpXfQ0saz0Fo9AmS1tTESRpkPk1PvAagjtxR11M2rgwTevg-Zabj8OzAGK7jX-efnE4vHY2kc4QTrwq-kZGqMgtCWCh5kbfbGT9Sq0i8/s320/07.02.09040.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjS40_9knJtQG0pFQl3KngAFHCDO7hTlE_mGjP9sLmI0SMWrsvHMxOgS091J4cssERxGxPhcrOOvPYUYw4OnUBR-03r3gpRev05dgWNh1fa5PohsAA-a5mu1iqwcE1N0JGdgSCZuZT8-Y/s1600-h/07.02.09042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076629157505407650" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjS40_9knJtQG0pFQl3KngAFHCDO7hTlE_mGjP9sLmI0SMWrsvHMxOgS091J4cssERxGxPhcrOOvPYUYw4OnUBR-03r3gpRev05dgWNh1fa5PohsAA-a5mu1iqwcE1N0JGdgSCZuZT8-Y/s320/07.02.09042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The set is described as following:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hello dear friend, welcome you visit my ebay item. I am an antique collector, I hope to share the old Chinese and oriental cultures with the people in all over the world. I am currently offering a group of Asian antiques. All of these items come from private collections. Now this time I will show you an exquisite and old treasure! This is a Rare bone carven Chess set and Vintage rosewood box. From the pictures you can see it had a long history. But it was kept very well. With the perfect style, nice design, wonderful workmanship, It is in good condition, no crack and no chip. Look at the pictures you can see the shape is very well; It is really a rare item and worth collecting!!! So wonderful item . Bid with confidence! You will not regret! please don't miss it ! It is most valued. I believe you are a finer buyer. If you know the value of my item. please bid my item. I have many other wonderful collect items on ebay. Please view my other items. If you have any question please tell me. If you are Asian antiques collector, please do not miss so better chance to get it. Enjoying your bidding!!!</span><br /><br />It is brand new and has nothing to do with bone or rosewood. It is cast from resin and the box is made of whatever wood painted red. If you happened to buy it, you would still smell the fresh paint when it reaches you. The same is true about all these Chinese sets with "leather boxes". <span style="font-weight: bold;">They all are the crappiest crap right from Crapville, CR.</span> Period.<br /><br />The sellers are con men. They charge $0.99 for the item and $125 or so for shipping. They refuse to compensate shipping costs if you want to return the item.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rule of the thumb #1:</span> If you see 3 identical antique items listed in the same time by different dealers, the chances are great that they are crap. If there are more identical items, they are almost certainly crap. We will discuss some exceptions below. Stay tuned. The Chinese items in question are simultaneously listed by 10 or more sellers most of the time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rule of the thumb #2:</span> Never ever buy anything from anybody who seems to charge the price as shipping cost. This is the practice of con men.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. DO NOT BUY CHINESE JADE CRAP<br /></span><br />Sometimes Chinese crap is listed in a more respective manner. It still remains crap. Take a look at the following pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhq9P-GVAtESwL8OsN-xljTWvCdQz5QMatazPRdf5dT2pfwoR8PvKJfEUd5qxyMzYdR9ehG8wMRjkux1uaJRd1t-9wwuD4FBV6zsOdnaF0ER1vnWwqEBSJ9uZGqvsDKpKp4z06XUJq77A/s1600-h/d2f6_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076632907011857090" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhq9P-GVAtESwL8OsN-xljTWvCdQz5QMatazPRdf5dT2pfwoR8PvKJfEUd5qxyMzYdR9ehG8wMRjkux1uaJRd1t-9wwuD4FBV6zsOdnaF0ER1vnWwqEBSJ9uZGqvsDKpKp4z06XUJq77A/s320/d2f6_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dJZ7E4W8xDinLe4mzyGZX_n8EFDjJMK2q5TTqxxNKDsr9bfQpljS7pdLp9Mis_SehGC1mHoNULCmVvuo-tfoQ9dUBOYUoBE_hr6mbZ-MQM9w7WB2YX3JPLRjb5oBu-80B4k1c_LtZEQ/s1600-h/05d7_12.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076632713738328754" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dJZ7E4W8xDinLe4mzyGZX_n8EFDjJMK2q5TTqxxNKDsr9bfQpljS7pdLp9Mis_SehGC1mHoNULCmVvuo-tfoQ9dUBOYUoBE_hr6mbZ-MQM9w7WB2YX3JPLRjb5oBu-80B4k1c_LtZEQ/s320/05d7_12.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The description reads:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Vintage Chess Board and Pieces. Handcarved wood, brass hardware, marble and onyx tiles, dark and light green quartz jade playing pieces. Two drawers, one on each side to store the pieces, there are bands in the drawers to hold each in place but this game is in such pristine condition that it still has the styro foam holders that the pieces originally came in. It folds up and can be carried like a case.</span><br /><br />It has nothing to do with Jade. Real Jade is harder than steel and expensive. These pieces are made of soapstone at best. They might be cast from resin or some composite material (grounded stone mixed with resin or whatever). The board is probably not of wood but plastic. If it is of wood indeed, it is not hand carved. It might have been made yesterday. They make them all the time in great numbers. The set is not as bad as the first one but still outright crap.<br /><br />Ty Kroll recently bought a <a href="http://www.tykroll.com/chess/jade.html">faux Jade set better than this one</a> (the set is older and the board is finer) for $20. That was a fair price in my opinion.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rule of the thumb #3:</span> eBay is full of "carved" stone pieces. If you are lucky, they are made of soapstone. Most of them are made of composite materials. These might look and feel quite like real stones but hot needle test will reveal their true nature. Be aware of composite materials.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. DO NOT BUY OTHER MODERN CRAP<br /><br /></span>Lots of modern crap is offered at eBay. I cannot even attempt to cover the riches of this field here but let us examine one more example.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN86AxedOiRd4TC3MMJ8vKj0sbXilo9kAbh6soil64sJKtQoNQ2QPwK-GthTLIlAayU8cU1bKG8sjkzKNU6zNANaNn8fiWB0NnSF1ZL0seORpI_PqYCEYW0nVqBI4SwvpDO5T5MNPWWZ0/s1600-h/9580_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076636875561638610" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN86AxedOiRd4TC3MMJ8vKj0sbXilo9kAbh6soil64sJKtQoNQ2QPwK-GthTLIlAayU8cU1bKG8sjkzKNU6zNANaNn8fiWB0NnSF1ZL0seORpI_PqYCEYW0nVqBI4SwvpDO5T5MNPWWZ0/s320/9580_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O_0u6mv1U6GnMtT29EvLAYNYevuOismj7Xv_7T5lqNsIcxMtcxJdjazTfWIJXIQVON125H2eYcnxvEXrId2-Wb8G5FmDXjuO650zmvomq3ikCTwT3wfoo-9N2lN8k1-jt7QzsFXFcx0/s1600-h/97c8_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076637223453989602" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O_0u6mv1U6GnMtT29EvLAYNYevuOismj7Xv_7T5lqNsIcxMtcxJdjazTfWIJXIQVON125H2eYcnxvEXrId2-Wb8G5FmDXjuO650zmvomq3ikCTwT3wfoo-9N2lN8k1-jt7QzsFXFcx0/s320/97c8_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The description reads:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This is a superb and a rare antique 32 piece chess set. This is such an interesting set and we believe something quite special. We are told that it may well date as early as 18th century. These are large chess pieces and we think they are plaster but not absolutely certain. The pieces have been painted more than once it appears although we don't believe they have been recently painted at all. The figures are animals and all are presented in period dress. The pieces are quite beautifully modelled. The king lion has superb detail to face and costume. The bear wears a monk's cowl. Another bear piece has a monkey clinging to his back. There are various chips, nibbles, nicks. Some just nicks to paint. Some pieces missing an ear etc but overall damage given age is minimal and quite age commensurate and there is no damage which detracts from this amazing set. Largest piece measures some 7.6" height and smallest piece is some 4.5" height. This is a very interesting and a highly collectable chess set which is very decorative.</span><br /><br />A plaster set from the 18th century, eh? The pattern is known as "Reynard the Fox" and if it was really made in the 18th century, it would have been carved from bone or ivory or wood and cost many thousands of dollars. However, it is a modern set made of resin and very crudely painted black and white. You can buy an identical resin set from here for example: <a href="http://www.shopping-emporium.co.uk/chess/reynard.htm">http://www.shopping-emporium.co.uk/chess/reynard.htm</a> . Please note that the last link points to trustworthy merchants who do not lie to their customers and do not try to sell their goods as fake antique.<br /><br />I do not want to say that these sets are crap if new. They are sold for $175 in natural resin colour and more than $500 if hand painted. But the crudely painted example above is miserable crap.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. DO NOT BUY MODERN IVORY</span><br /><br />EBay is also full of modern ivory sets. They might not be outright crap but are clearly inferior to antique ivory sets. There are two reasons to avoid modern ivory:<br /><br />1) Ivory poachers with AK47 rifles have brought the elephants to the edge of extinction. Occasional witnesses have good chances to get a bullet, too. It happened to George Adamson for instance. PLEASE do not support this bloody business.<br /><br />2) The quality of most modern ivory sets is not comparable to antique ivory sets. The master carvers of today use mammoth ivory, not elephant ivory (mammoths are extinct for 3000 years or so and therefore not endangered by ivory hunters).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypLa06422LPVwjHXl8Sf8e7GzrqnGEdvvtO-gr00fODz2e49wngkbnGGE-EENOErwkYAg3wZ2MEK2rZfOP1g61rXXet-8RUJ0v7-Zl0LIriBvtq6xeqlxwYehmNiW2TKwC84qPVGrE-I/s1600-h/Ivorychessset1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076641634385402610" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypLa06422LPVwjHXl8Sf8e7GzrqnGEdvvtO-gr00fODz2e49wngkbnGGE-EENOErwkYAg3wZ2MEK2rZfOP1g61rXXet-8RUJ0v7-Zl0LIriBvtq6xeqlxwYehmNiW2TKwC84qPVGrE-I/s320/Ivorychessset1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a Chinese chess set, probably made in Hong Kong after 1950. It is post-1947 set (E.U. and U.K. allow import of antique ivory dating prior to June 1947) and the carving of the pieces is nothing to be proud of. There are plenty of these offered in eBay and I for example do not consider them collectable. I am truly sorry for the enormous quantities of material utterly wasted on these sets.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrw2XU883mYO03SOD7sH9uH1PA0r2qHYIOABOxXnFVD93iK0qutVjFGB-zD0ak7s1Y3DjOJ8jpVKNXn9C7M6Uloj7c3PUKSk6H-BeW241loHDClNvk8LL9mL1GT7SOoPXb8WPQ-_4NVos/s1600-h/indian45-1a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076643210638400274" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrw2XU883mYO03SOD7sH9uH1PA0r2qHYIOABOxXnFVD93iK0qutVjFGB-zD0ak7s1Y3DjOJ8jpVKNXn9C7M6Uloj7c3PUKSk6H-BeW241loHDClNvk8LL9mL1GT7SOoPXb8WPQ-_4NVos/s320/indian45-1a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is another example of a modern ivory set. It is a typical Indian set and might be made of ivory or camel bone.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rule of the thumb #4:</span> The fact that an item is made of ivory does not mean that it cannot be crap. Ivory is one of the best materials to make chess sets from but even the best material demands good skills to get a good product. Never buy an ivory product which appears to be less than 60 years old!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. BE AWARE OF MODERN INDIAN SETS<br /><br /></span>EBay is also full of modern Indian sets with antique look and feel. They might be quite good but are made in large quantities and therefore are not collectable in my opinion. You can see a good selection of modern Indian sets at <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/BEEKAYS-CHESS-STORE">Beekay's store</a> . Please note that I do not think that these sets are crap and I have no issues with Beekay's business practices. But many modern overdecorated Indian sets are offered as genuine antique by other sellers. Buy them if you like them but do not expect them to be anything but modern.<br /><br />The last picture of Advice #4 is of another modern Indian set which was offered as 19th century antique made by some Indian prince.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. LEARN THE 3 LATEST CHESS DESIGN PATTERNS<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Regency Pattern</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FtXgGNUjJhiKLNIY_TWft0VV05CTXSRZMAXr3BEj7x_x2qnKpcuwbyrnFWk1HER89lNACjhg7xpKvRnx_miGASA01OlXpQdGUdljxTMQOQzY8pQWqJQA8-TonBcLW2L2UtHUGJ2_tSI/s1600-h/eeb4_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076649764758493986" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FtXgGNUjJhiKLNIY_TWft0VV05CTXSRZMAXr3BEj7x_x2qnKpcuwbyrnFWk1HER89lNACjhg7xpKvRnx_miGASA01OlXpQdGUdljxTMQOQzY8pQWqJQA8-TonBcLW2L2UtHUGJ2_tSI/s320/eeb4_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These sets were fairly common from the 16th Century to the 2nd half of the 20th Century. The pattern itself has a proud history and the good examples are highly sought after and cost thousands of dollars. However, eBay is full of low-end Regency sets made in the 20th or late 19th Century. Even if some of them are antique, they tend to be rude, not collectable and bad to play with. Do not waste your time to crap like the example on the picture above.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) St. George Pattern<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: times new roman;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIwL4g7C4UDAMAv95BxSGN_7vwQ7jzrYQ7kHNXa__T8Mkoaus8GJL0OM9-3KAPNnEdMemrqHO8ZGmnh77YfJy61Gq71oqW_1W-ucBHr3P7tIAltugg1qGYZ60W_FHUkDwOYq8PdUjcFo/s1600-h/st+george+compr.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076653509969976114" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIwL4g7C4UDAMAv95BxSGN_7vwQ7jzrYQ7kHNXa__T8Mkoaus8GJL0OM9-3KAPNnEdMemrqHO8ZGmnh77YfJy61Gq71oqW_1W-ucBHr3P7tIAltugg1qGYZ60W_FHUkDwOYq8PdUjcFo/s320/st+george+compr.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This pattern was very popular in England from around 1800 to the First World War, possibly later. Plenty of these sets were made and there is still a steady flow of them. Most of St. George sets offered at eBay are low-end. The set above is genuine antique but rather low end, too. Let us take a closer look at the Knight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoviRAweu9jbNj8358ppbDLRprS2potSBcrEGDdSUhiQfddCKCXDfuoGohp4vkBUph4IisoCZc393yucCcHGoprfKIjUdq5sn0oVuJsxRGLQosxW6xJEkVIYp87X2cugd5QYgXlHoraFo/s1600-h/st+george+knight.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076654931604151106" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoviRAweu9jbNj8358ppbDLRprS2potSBcrEGDdSUhiQfddCKCXDfuoGohp4vkBUph4IisoCZc393yucCcHGoprfKIjUdq5sn0oVuJsxRGLQosxW6xJEkVIYp87X2cugd5QYgXlHoraFo/s320/st+george+knight.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />As you see, it is rather rudely cut (I would not call it carving). This is a typical low-end St. George Knight. I bought the set for £30, did not like it and sold it for the same amount. Do not ever buy such set for more.<br /><br />The best St. George sets cost thousands of dollars.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3) Staunton Pattern</span><br />The Staunton Pattern was introduced by the famous firm of J. Jaques in 1849. This is the most common pattern in use and is the FIDE official standard. Millions of Staunton pattern sets have been made in more than 150 years and every chessplayer has used them. The pattern varies greatly.<br /><br />The most collectable Staunton pattern sets were made by Jaques of London in the 19th century. They are good quality sets, very well carved and the best examples cost lots of money. A very rare club-sized ivory set was recently sold for around 40 000 dollars in the auction of the collection of late Dr. Cholet at Christie's.<br /><br />Many eBay vendors claim to sell sets of "Jaques pattern", of "Jaques quality", "unsigned Jaques", "with Jaques crown" etc. These are weasel words. 99% of these sets have nothing to do with Jaques even if they are antique.<br /><br />There is no such thing as Jaques pattern. The pattern was named after famous chessplayer and columnist Howard Staunton who strongly advocated the design in the middle of the 19th Century.<br /><br />High quality sets comparable to Jaques exist. For example, British Chess Company (BCC) made some very good sets in the 19th and early 20th centuries. But they are still considerably cheaper than comparable Jaques sets. Buy them if you want but not for the same price as Jaques.<br /><br />Jaques signed Staunton sets White King and later both Kings with stamp around the base. The sets were housed in boxes with labels. If you are offered a wooden Staunton set without any signatures then it most probably has nothing to do with Jaques.<br /><br />Jaques introduced the convention to mark Kingside Knights and Rooks with small red crowns on their tops. Other manufacturers adopted it fast. Such crowns do not indicate manufacturer.<br /><br />Non-Jaques Staunton sets by good makers (BCC, Whitty, Crays or others) might be perfectly collectable but be aware that there is a large quantity of low end Staunton sets in the market. A 2nd rate Staunton set is next to worthless even if antique.<br /><br />Some words should be said about Staunton sets in bone. There are very few (really very, very few, most probably less than 10) bone Jaques Staunton sets in the world but you will most probably never see one of these. Do not trust people who offer you bone sets and claim them to be made by Jaques. Take good pictures of the set and send them to the expert.<br /><br />However, there are many good Staunton sets made of bone by other makers. They might be perfectly collectable and cost hundreds of dollars.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68keQLsVJSArpOVPWHTxjzuCaXAVI9A7dq_VpWu8VJ0x6Swn-erF4P0ZK4D7Lw9N8ICECdKK4MfdSpRTsSOkdEMrJqOh4I-R0aEQsO_xEuXVnWaYxuTaV8PnjHbZgaBVlRK8Z2SDji5M/s1600-h/staunton+white+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68keQLsVJSArpOVPWHTxjzuCaXAVI9A7dq_VpWu8VJ0x6Swn-erF4P0ZK4D7Lw9N8ICECdKK4MfdSpRTsSOkdEMrJqOh4I-R0aEQsO_xEuXVnWaYxuTaV8PnjHbZgaBVlRK8Z2SDji5M/s320/staunton+white+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076746259788733586" border="0" /><br /></a>A good quality antique Staunton pattern set in bone.<br /><br />A very common set encountered at eBay looks like this:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmgwv-9eTxO-E2nWyW8Vp97KrKB40KPOd4NWlVggx3ULkMFsUzxypFsq_8y0jYafP7XEpctXGL8TcZbguaN8YJYR_fQSEF2F7je64NlLUVdc2uC4FkpJetugi0Ql0bLRz5ne5eZtjgx0/s1600-h/390e_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076662001120320338" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmgwv-9eTxO-E2nWyW8Vp97KrKB40KPOd4NWlVggx3ULkMFsUzxypFsq_8y0jYafP7XEpctXGL8TcZbguaN8YJYR_fQSEF2F7je64NlLUVdc2uC4FkpJetugi0Ql0bLRz5ne5eZtjgx0/s320/390e_1.JPG" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6jWlCmLwZU5_MevYRMV0adt5sLMRzKexF0azChOhsywqvHXpiWrgM2cvaa-Sb-3Q3_LCdsQ-3iJWL5QvKk_oZBAcPwIcZ1CAOWCT6qPwMKzMIgQdNTtQuuAktLGKtFpvUiLIdaBkVTE/s1600-h/3a64_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076662503631493986" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6jWlCmLwZU5_MevYRMV0adt5sLMRzKexF0azChOhsywqvHXpiWrgM2cvaa-Sb-3Q3_LCdsQ-3iJWL5QvKk_oZBAcPwIcZ1CAOWCT6qPwMKzMIgQdNTtQuuAktLGKtFpvUiLIdaBkVTE/s320/3a64_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It comes from the 1st part of 20th Century (1920s or 1930s or so). Sometimes 3-4 are listed simultaneously. Buy it if you like it, it is not crap. But do not expect it to be anything special. These sets are sometimes listed as "Victorian". That is not true. They are always made of bone, never ivory. The most ridiculous claim I have seen about them dates one to the 18th Century.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rule of the thumb #5:</span> If you want to have a lower end antique set of a common pattern, do not buy a set which has ANY damage, however marginal. You will find a set in excellent condition sooner or later (probably sooner).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. BE PARANOID<br /><br /></span>Buying chess sets by pictures is a risky business. You will want to have a set with minimal damage and know about possible replacements before bidding. Please note that in many cases, the pieces are assembled from smaller parts and these single parts might be replaced as well.<br /><br />Let us have a look at the following pictures:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEb4MbIESP0io-u7no_5mlqW1mcUbe-SmE5FBphR7sTbRAXgrHHrB45oGKNVIglDLibnILpmOtB51_6SPqYctJxuElgJBSkjosRfBfEzCUUE6scC9VQXLawzO-C5EKVRIXPyPG6L2fgI/s1600-h/05d7_12.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076665853705984882" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEb4MbIESP0io-u7no_5mlqW1mcUbe-SmE5FBphR7sTbRAXgrHHrB45oGKNVIglDLibnILpmOtB51_6SPqYctJxuElgJBSkjosRfBfEzCUUE6scC9VQXLawzO-C5EKVRIXPyPG6L2fgI/s320/05d7_12.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNEH3AQqiXIRFVGswU5Y0woKo2VZUjvIYgEM5heMjPJGqaP5SlljEC1jvYLEL_7Qcs8o2rge_AziGT8yB4fQSQnHFsomV4MUUvsHfcySmw-SSw3LgCPOUoKQ8c7gOsSv3AcXWnzjUbNU/s1600-h/fd30_12.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076667167965977490" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNEH3AQqiXIRFVGswU5Y0woKo2VZUjvIYgEM5heMjPJGqaP5SlljEC1jvYLEL_7Qcs8o2rge_AziGT8yB4fQSQnHFsomV4MUUvsHfcySmw-SSw3LgCPOUoKQ8c7gOsSv3AcXWnzjUbNU/s320/fd30_12.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It is an interesting 19th or early 20th Century bone Selenus pattern chess set with carved faces. It would cost thousands of dollars in excellent condition. How many faults can you find from the pictures?<br /><br />It seems to be that at least 5 pieces are replacements. They include 4 Rooks (if all Rooks are from the same stock which they are) and the White Queen. The Rooks come from some English chess set, of completely different pattern. The White Queen is a more complicated issue. Take a close look at it and compare it to other pieces.<br /><br />You will notice that it has a different base, it's collar is less pierced and it's finial is substantially different from it's Red counterpart.<br /><br />The stems of the Knights miss decorative ribbon which other major pieces have but I do not know if this is a sign of a replacement or not in this case.<br /><br />Now, let us take a closer look at these faces.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkykCAJfR3uou-31xtgfALES2fYVs5Gx2hGSJGI5aG6hfVH9g4bSZ6eNxmAHGs7AJgNa7lYcFrxvARWiA6wQZCfc5n2dxnxPuAOTlQlzx7sAUGfuaTaFDehW-exAbRM6MvUtPqaSe1rhU/s1600-h/1044_3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076672012689087474" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkykCAJfR3uou-31xtgfALES2fYVs5Gx2hGSJGI5aG6hfVH9g4bSZ6eNxmAHGs7AJgNa7lYcFrxvARWiA6wQZCfc5n2dxnxPuAOTlQlzx7sAUGfuaTaFDehW-exAbRM6MvUtPqaSe1rhU/s320/1044_3.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoH3vM2otZ6iKSsc7nwCPODSv-Tz7ggpUeBuoEGYLQ8it9K_FgIE8OiN6ep3kIVa-f-spZQuFR7mimZHFEronky4LhypWXEUtRmv-dKb_EXX-mkMChz17Es3GPeKcD7xVhU1WtWWKv3M/s1600-h/0284_12.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076671943969610722" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoH3vM2otZ6iKSsc7nwCPODSv-Tz7ggpUeBuoEGYLQ8it9K_FgIE8OiN6ep3kIVa-f-spZQuFR7mimZHFEronky4LhypWXEUtRmv-dKb_EXX-mkMChz17Es3GPeKcD7xVhU1WtWWKv3M/s320/0284_12.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPL9lqGXpghzFU0ogijoGiep2Y_052jJne86_Tgy-Wzs5dd_BQOo6M-b_quDcXHaGhz5Ye58L6CCOPSlJTiiqIlOBQ1vIlU9y7DVYpRLIzqOLxJGJ9iKEBop_FP4X40LmVI2OWYhE61Y/s1600-h/0029_12.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076671875250133970" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPL9lqGXpghzFU0ogijoGiep2Y_052jJne86_Tgy-Wzs5dd_BQOo6M-b_quDcXHaGhz5Ye58L6CCOPSlJTiiqIlOBQ1vIlU9y7DVYpRLIzqOLxJGJ9iKEBop_FP4X40LmVI2OWYhE61Y/s320/0029_12.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If all the faces seem to be carved by the same hand then a question arises: how on Earth did they get onto different bodies? The answer is simple: they are glued in. The glue is clearly visible in both pictures of White pieces. This still does not resolve the problem of different crowns of White and Red Queen but is interesting to know.<br /><br />Now ask yourself a question. Do you want to buy a set with at least 5 major replacement pieces and very suspicious traces of repair on others? If yes, how much money would you spend on it? I considered bidding $100. It sold for more than $1000. I really hope that the buyer knew what he was doing.<br /><br />Many sellers do not describe all possible faults or replacements in their listings. Some are unable to find them by themselves, some just try to make more money and fool the buyers. Do not hope that you can always send the set back and ask for a refund if you find some hidden faults while examining the set in flesh. In many cases the seller will ignore you. But if you find yourself in such a situation, you should still make as much noise as you can. File a PayPal complaint (the deadline is 50 days from the date of the deal), leave negative feedback and let the Chess Collector's group know about your bad experience.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rule of the thumb #6:</span> Be as paranoid as you can. Assume that every item has some hidden faults and try to find them. Do not hesitate to ask additional images. Do not hesitate to ask stupid questions like "How do you know it is ivory?", "What makes you believe that the set is antique?", "Is the set complete?", "How experienced with antique chess sets was the person who told you that the set came from the 18th Century? Do you guarantee his words?" and most importantly "Do you guarantee that all pieces belong to the same set from the beginning?" A composite chess set is like a teared up block of stamps. Replacements from other sets mean a considerable loss in value. Sometimes it is a good idea to ask for an image of undersides of the pieces.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rule of the thumb #7:</span> Be double paranoid with Jaques Staunton pieces! As they were manufactured industrially, many composite sets exist. In the same time, discovering them is harder and sometimes outright impossible from the images.<br /><br />One more of the sets pictured above has a replacement piece. I do not tell which it is. Try to find it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. BE AWARE OF OBJECTS OFFERED AS CHESS PIECES<br /><br /></span> Good quality single pieces might also be very collectable. For example, a good condition Wedgewood Flaxman major piece might cost well more than 1000 dollars and <a href="http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/miscellanea/DoultonChessQueenbyGeorgeTinworth.htm">George Tinworth pieces</a> cost even more. However, a really wide range of objects is offered as chess pieces. Some sellers just do not know what they are selling (it happens in the other way round, too) and sometimes even specialists make mistakes here.<br /><br />Some of these objects are:<br /><br />1) Netsuke figures (a small number of chess sets in "Netsuke style" exist but Netsuke traditionally come in pairs). BTW, most of the ivory Netsuke in the market is made of post-ban ivory. You might try to assemble a chess set from Netsuke figures (it could be kind of fun) but PLEASE use only pre-ban ivory Netsuke.<br /><br />2) Okimono figures (often come in pairs but that's all, they do not come from sets of 32 pieces).<br /><br />3) Single pieces in the "John Company" style like this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThNN4K-ctqCvREsraiVlLK1bLN2OKEIq4hHFBChhlXaLjnyoR5S8HeFTpxC6AFvNKxbctR4nqMkSQm5AcFMNhfe4bJyqkwmQYkSESA54mSFpf72WkuLadSYT7H3sJCisNWOWtm7Fu7zQ/s1600-h/elephant_small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076683600510852098" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThNN4K-ctqCvREsraiVlLK1bLN2OKEIq4hHFBChhlXaLjnyoR5S8HeFTpxC6AFvNKxbctR4nqMkSQm5AcFMNhfe4bJyqkwmQYkSESA54mSFpf72WkuLadSYT7H3sJCisNWOWtm7Fu7zQ/s320/elephant_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The trouble with these pieces is that there is no evidence that they ever belonged to chess sets. They were most probably produced as decorative objects by the same school of craftsmen. The piece above is a very fine one and I am happy to own it but it is not a chess piece. However, they are often listed as chess pieces at eBay. The real John Company chess pieces come with round bases.<br /><br />4) Many single pieces from all parts of the World resemble chess pieces. I will offer two more examples, one from India and the other one from Dieppe. Neither of them is a chess piece.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvju2OKn-6dJIByEh_zerw2LYLCR1czjkjMrzQY6KooS5ROj6J1SgFXOeBM3EHWUXuK5Hu5KNPpInc84URVMS3kTbC2znGcLPhyphenhyphenGuAp-PNrs-sDUFmaDYbZVf6RPvF4c3J-Zb4dfZRrI/s1600-h/dieppe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076686705772207138" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvju2OKn-6dJIByEh_zerw2LYLCR1czjkjMrzQY6KooS5ROj6J1SgFXOeBM3EHWUXuK5Hu5KNPpInc84URVMS3kTbC2znGcLPhyphenhyphenGuAp-PNrs-sDUFmaDYbZVf6RPvF4c3J-Zb4dfZRrI/s320/dieppe.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiu1ecFo9QdTmkbHZwDuY6_eaBbKZ6A3HgjiWiU9qUBc5Ga6IvSXuRU0dAi2kzzjzn5ah2S0fFb3im7Im26HynvkbyenE3m2RU38dOOP5e3_OY7mIBaTtaX56pkly2hUt67sLSqB4zkRI/s1600-h/indian.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076684949130583058" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiu1ecFo9QdTmkbHZwDuY6_eaBbKZ6A3HgjiWiU9qUBc5Ga6IvSXuRU0dAi2kzzjzn5ah2S0fFb3im7Im26HynvkbyenE3m2RU38dOOP5e3_OY7mIBaTtaX56pkly2hUt67sLSqB4zkRI/s320/indian.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These very fine figures come from around 1600 and resemble chess pieces closely. However, they are both single pieces (the bases differ) and most probably just decorative busts.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzWOl9o98YznsUiKbh5lCHXY7iFmbYKUqZWIlQGwYvmuZp4syy76suTRzme1zrOVIT74_topBJwh2Nw2aH4a1eWwPjE0eSKWNT1PQKjVjh4xA7iZEZM47LYVNTGLM0HJuL5yintWhBiI/s1600-h/sienese.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076706947953073282" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzWOl9o98YznsUiKbh5lCHXY7iFmbYKUqZWIlQGwYvmuZp4syy76suTRzme1zrOVIT74_topBJwh2Nw2aH4a1eWwPjE0eSKWNT1PQKjVjh4xA7iZEZM47LYVNTGLM0HJuL5yintWhBiI/s320/sienese.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />5) <a href="http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/french/DieppeBonePinPieces.htm">Spillikins</a> were most probably never made to play chess with but chess sets have been assembled from them. Sand or cushions are used as chess boards.<br /><br />6) According to Alan Dewey, so-called Turkish pieces pictured in the Mackett-Beeson's book were never chess pieces (and that's why no complete sets have survived). However, chess sets have been made in the same style in the later period. One <a href="http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/other/TurkishStyleCarvedIvorySet.htm">great example</a> belongs to the collection of Jon Crumiller.<br /><br />7) Decorative objects like in the following two pictures are not chess pieces. They were used to keep needles, hat pins or whatever. But they are not chess pieces.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit13g_BmdyIFsG66z1ommye860o0G8RY7dr5NxfpYqVRcr-4U_Wjlq6veiv5VvBKEARiVgGBHPrcqE_j94ZojIP1aSWcSBeesAD0yr1DYeVk6TU_pXFlD-Dc0SDgndyrVB8S26KiDRPRY/s1600-h/needle.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076689149608598610" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit13g_BmdyIFsG66z1ommye860o0G8RY7dr5NxfpYqVRcr-4U_Wjlq6veiv5VvBKEARiVgGBHPrcqE_j94ZojIP1aSWcSBeesAD0yr1DYeVk6TU_pXFlD-Dc0SDgndyrVB8S26KiDRPRY/s320/needle.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoomD_uGc82dkp-kVRiR8jbiEfl2SRalIyTb6ASk2YsF_8HAd_JdCRlGYJcAb0iebQ5qCkA8JHXG7vl7eslE4pd4PF_p2Ul3mPdoQHCd4Q3W1BtlM7SDEDsMWaxK0tVv9OOK2-1Uf91Q/s1600-h/hatpin.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076689029349514290" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoomD_uGc82dkp-kVRiR8jbiEfl2SRalIyTb6ASk2YsF_8HAd_JdCRlGYJcAb0iebQ5qCkA8JHXG7vl7eslE4pd4PF_p2Ul3mPdoQHCd4Q3W1BtlM7SDEDsMWaxK0tVv9OOK2-1Uf91Q/s320/hatpin.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />8) Pieces <a href="http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/medieval/SeventeenthCenturyChessPawn.htm">like this</a> are sometimes listed as 17th century Dutch chess Pawns. Nobody has ever seen other pieces than Pawns as far as I know. I think that they might be weights for small scales or pieces for some other game. But there is not enough information to tell it for sure. Sellers sometimes list them as blacks and whites, leaving the "white" pieces uncleaned from patina. This is ridiculous, of course.<br /><br />9) And last but not least - the weirdest claim I have ever seen. The object below was listed as a 14th Century chess piece.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqEzi5Js2EQRSW_pmX5jAHgO7LHWCA6-Vx5ipnd-DxgpPqqrpZok3bE4ce08b-MD_GD2W5qlB5sor35bBMBYGQLWQVdMQCh1n_OphOZWnyygY0ecN6f6eFcKXvHtQFuY_UdOBtpyw8mE/s1600-h/poo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076690609897479266" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqEzi5Js2EQRSW_pmX5jAHgO7LHWCA6-Vx5ipnd-DxgpPqqrpZok3bE4ce08b-MD_GD2W5qlB5sor35bBMBYGQLWQVdMQCh1n_OphOZWnyygY0ecN6f6eFcKXvHtQFuY_UdOBtpyw8mE/s320/poo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Yes, you are right. It is dog poo.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-87450901564160165982007-05-21T06:56:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:15:02.581-08:00English set from around 1750<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZpUaLL4V6aPsvYx4k84zjfhaY1OLBqf1Fg1pgl-x1wrtbLEhUiq8rl-CCgk2WFVOkMg-65jk94MVRCP9djpPayjKmxgL2qpVYK-G4miDOQzuhmYKRY4uLpftcwBxetz3lyLuBZ_ABZo/s1600-h/IMG_1693_s.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZpUaLL4V6aPsvYx4k84zjfhaY1OLBqf1Fg1pgl-x1wrtbLEhUiq8rl-CCgk2WFVOkMg-65jk94MVRCP9djpPayjKmxgL2qpVYK-G4miDOQzuhmYKRY4uLpftcwBxetz3lyLuBZ_ABZo/s400/IMG_1693_s.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067013316943811202" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">English set from the middle of the 18th century.<br /></span>White pieces in ivory, Red pieces in bone.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-13745200531139613622007-05-04T04:47:00.000-07:002009-08-19T02:36:07.293-07:00Two Chinese pieces<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoOs2EH4B2JgDrH4xnd4rh99ldSILzT3NijIteDz4ImWXEg7zoKXEdIfre-7J0kMFKCl2TF9czq7jTDi7HcKzm4JtdlC58BjlMDuSyzro4IkgjSIL3r6jzlb4XcP3QFYU1KPLbIDNaUg/s1600-h/IMG_1744_s.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoOs2EH4B2JgDrH4xnd4rh99ldSILzT3NijIteDz4ImWXEg7zoKXEdIfre-7J0kMFKCl2TF9czq7jTDi7HcKzm4JtdlC58BjlMDuSyzro4IkgjSIL3r6jzlb4XcP3QFYU1KPLbIDNaUg/s400/IMG_1744_s.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060671135145138002" border="0" /></a>A sitting Chinese Queen and a Pawn from different sets. Both pieces are made of ivory and finely carved.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />It is unclear wether or not the sitting Chinese Queens and Kings are chess pieces. Mackett-Beeson tells us that they are but they are usually sold as single pieces. Micheal Mark has seen only one chess set with sitting Chinese Queens, Kings and Bishops in more than 30 years.<br /><br />I love the Pawn. It must come from a very fine set. 99.9% of Chinese pawns out there are very rude compared to this one.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz9njKN5lbMJW7ftxikvHtR5oiEDb9ZnPiAucltOgbIW_SSP6GA2HTKOeLR8daCsoSqstYnxPPmAXR8w5xK2QhHqmn-Nbuku75sYng511Cvc1DuZbAUwn6iG7FGI5ta38_Nz8qGZ5yRk/s1600-h/IMG_1740_s.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz9njKN5lbMJW7ftxikvHtR5oiEDb9ZnPiAucltOgbIW_SSP6GA2HTKOeLR8daCsoSqstYnxPPmAXR8w5xK2QhHqmn-Nbuku75sYng511Cvc1DuZbAUwn6iG7FGI5ta38_Nz8qGZ5yRk/s400/IMG_1740_s.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060671998433564514" border="0" /></a>The pawn again<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAew3N-WDmUSv5S-AKODXaOfU0HVgQXf0XNJxDThz-Yfxl34InzNUPKwAgyfeOyGXX4ylH9otQyp3BQwYNVFTJYfa5OpA8DsW7TlRhSTKDMPDy-zjjic5xWFDQA-3E35VP4azZuUwgDSQ/s1600-h/poor+chinese+pawn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAew3N-WDmUSv5S-AKODXaOfU0HVgQXf0XNJxDThz-Yfxl34InzNUPKwAgyfeOyGXX4ylH9otQyp3BQwYNVFTJYfa5OpA8DsW7TlRhSTKDMPDy-zjjic5xWFDQA-3E35VP4azZuUwgDSQ/s400/poor+chinese+pawn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250591355109587010" border="0" /></a>A miserably low-end pawn for comparison. Fortunately not from my collection.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-30794334149903938522007-02-10T02:55:00.000-08:002011-04-16T02:39:49.258-07:00Two Bishops<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9q6vJQsVrFE4OSGqRy7Ho-ENf7RkhlAAxASzp2X94RdBo8h56kV5Mg2TPeSl_SdKhdb0fsEz4IQbB8aF2AhPdY2pQDNSRMBbA3uFwSxE-9e0uRoipVz69mantB2PkPgaiHILUOFtuc0/s1600-h/opposed.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9q6vJQsVrFE4OSGqRy7Ho-ENf7RkhlAAxASzp2X94RdBo8h56kV5Mg2TPeSl_SdKhdb0fsEz4IQbB8aF2AhPdY2pQDNSRMBbA3uFwSxE-9e0uRoipVz69mantB2PkPgaiHILUOFtuc0/s400/opposed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029857677892128194" border="0" /></a>Two high-end figural Bishops from around 1800: a French ivory (possibly Dieppe) bust piece in the form of a clown (left) and a Wedgwood jasperware porcelain figure (right).<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The ivory piece is extremely well carved. Bishops became modeled as clowns as anti-clerical winds blew over France in the end of the 18th century.<br /><br />The Wedgwood pieces were designed by John Flaxman in the 18th century using famous actors from Shakespeare's "Macbeth" as models for King and Queen.<br /><br />Can two designs of the same period differ more?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWI1a1lsLOvw_PUb7INs8HHfxdrzPO4od6-TurfJ8iY4hCysaBTYSWqFugXxc1BBpfCyIsQFw36UEU_p1H0MAnZFeq49Ua_tZELKlyFQdTx11DAdXUwsXJwsMDhRRQiIP5W_CrwR9N7M/s1600-h/looking+to+camera.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWI1a1lsLOvw_PUb7INs8HHfxdrzPO4od6-TurfJ8iY4hCysaBTYSWqFugXxc1BBpfCyIsQFw36UEU_p1H0MAnZFeq49Ua_tZELKlyFQdTx11DAdXUwsXJwsMDhRRQiIP5W_CrwR9N7M/s400/looking+to+camera.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029864876257316338" border="0" /></a><br />The ivory Bishop was accompanied with a red Pawn from the same set. Complete sets of this age and quality would cost well over £5000 for each.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWnRTcy1ymg6ElDA2mgnW5e_1I61TBGAa5KGtqs_t2kCXZbPvt2Fl5n0f0rvcH2arQEWHcwZgazWQGgNmM_8Ymgz9b6TX5XUYQpKlWZjhRpgP1tzpJD0ROJCFkOWrXClg2LkioNneZJs/s1600-h/pawn1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWnRTcy1ymg6ElDA2mgnW5e_1I61TBGAa5KGtqs_t2kCXZbPvt2Fl5n0f0rvcH2arQEWHcwZgazWQGgNmM_8Ymgz9b6TX5XUYQpKlWZjhRpgP1tzpJD0ROJCFkOWrXClg2LkioNneZJs/s400/pawn1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029891517939453442" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update April 14 2008</span>: It has turned out that the ivory pieces are made of mammoth ivory. Mammoth ivory was widely used in the 18th-19th C. Professor Fersht has provided a good reference about this:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="lw-text"> “The reader may perhaps be surprised on being told that Sheffield alone requires its annual slaughter of something like 22,000 elephants. Still the demand continues, and the cunning of the Africa and Indian huntsmen does not desert them. Yet it is not to be supposed that the elephant supplies all the ivory for which such an enormous demand exists. The mammoths and animals of past times have bequeathed us large stores of tusks which have gone some way towards fossilisation. Eastern Liberia and the Arctic marshes abound with this ivory, which is of less value than recent ivory, and is used more by the Continental ivory-workers than by our own.”<br /><br />Illustrated News, Nov 15 1862.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrM5OQ9jqTDAyvjyKugVUKec9ZWi62vksWyrN66Zq7AkcTnt0yClQ9h0mnRHsybL1g7r0tO_jEvTatIsgZycNvMKzU0AXVri3P6hc0YWwTgvKwB_MkUnmujCE-bqgezX2ZxdPZhC-gNM/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrM5OQ9jqTDAyvjyKugVUKec9ZWi62vksWyrN66Zq7AkcTnt0yClQ9h0mnRHsybL1g7r0tO_jEvTatIsgZycNvMKzU0AXVri3P6hc0YWwTgvKwB_MkUnmujCE-bqgezX2ZxdPZhC-gNM/s400/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189097153014087858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV9Hxd5J6iVQ_awpgkYKPVsqWpyz71QtVWLKzwShK9HdA2j5Dh18yrb-iayxKrcobCpMKCxxOihoH86ejwFa_ZXcREc6LG5GIEEHYtpKsc9sQ-ECC_CsSITrUlGhS7vYgm2cWl61uVy8/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV9Hxd5J6iVQ_awpgkYKPVsqWpyz71QtVWLKzwShK9HdA2j5Dh18yrb-iayxKrcobCpMKCxxOihoH86ejwFa_ZXcREc6LG5GIEEHYtpKsc9sQ-ECC_CsSITrUlGhS7vYgm2cWl61uVy8/s400/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189097277568139458" border="0" /></a><br />Sharp angles in grain are characteristic to mammoth ivory. A good article on the subject can be found <a href="http://www.asianartmall.com/schreger-lines.htm">here.</a><br /></div> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184677785792446197.post-72080460328644084982007-01-12T07:16:00.000-08:002009-09-06T10:00:23.295-07:00Washington pattern set<div align="justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixzhGr7a7FRm6xcatlmp1TastO1ZtIqPr5oyzTINKGyTjS2E5Kt9CnpO80IOyKrSSVx_CwWygCKkd4S1ZXpQuAzECoiigo4JU7aa1POyLYOdF9taUCa8ohbymZA3QP-pfC5_fll6eBfI/s1600-h/whole+set.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019164807716823090" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixzhGr7a7FRm6xcatlmp1TastO1ZtIqPr5oyzTINKGyTjS2E5Kt9CnpO80IOyKrSSVx_CwWygCKkd4S1ZXpQuAzECoiigo4JU7aa1POyLYOdF9taUCa8ohbymZA3QP-pfC5_fll6eBfI/s400/whole+set.JPG" border="0" /></a>A similar set was used by George Washinton in Mount Vernon. It was a common pattern in 18th century. Characteristics of the original set include urn-like stems, conical middle section of Kings and Queens with rings, brickworked and monoblock Rooks, arched Knights with flat foreheads and short mithras of Bishops.<br /><br />This set has stepped rooks and is made of ivory while the original set is made of bone. The upper part of white King has been restored.<br /><br />It dates to the 2nd part of 18th century.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gtNMxN9pS9bZ7LH1NKjarCDZNXhGYcBiGwF1mCRTTlDpez2JBEL1wlIslShRePYB0DricI5oj86Rxsix7i-oP2ZihS5rPCw6sX7LsL8CM6dccCpwKyCWH10Kao7y2KyDhW4gi-jYcvg/s1600-h/IMG_1604.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gtNMxN9pS9bZ7LH1NKjarCDZNXhGYcBiGwF1mCRTTlDpez2JBEL1wlIslShRePYB0DricI5oj86Rxsix7i-oP2ZihS5rPCw6sX7LsL8CM6dccCpwKyCWH10Kao7y2KyDhW4gi-jYcvg/s400/IMG_1604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5023248146828975714" border="0" /></a></div><br />Update Sept. 6 2009: chess pieces of similar design where salvaged from the wreck of <a href="http://www.weymouthdiving.co.uk/halsewell_intro.htm">"Halsewell" sunken in 1786</a> , now in Dorset County Museum:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYq1Ch3yroqoztfvNC4EuvjTiO3k1zQEMwL6d8LWy3J3kI1N1gXEYo3l77NJC008yHh5T_QD-o3IxGp2aaaMAhjUeSrkbqh1Jv9L4owNi8Lcm06coaRL8lCS1QVxZLwy5WnObg7OuOjc/s1600-h/halsewell.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYq1Ch3yroqoztfvNC4EuvjTiO3k1zQEMwL6d8LWy3J3kI1N1gXEYo3l77NJC008yHh5T_QD-o3IxGp2aaaMAhjUeSrkbqh1Jv9L4owNi8Lcm06coaRL8lCS1QVxZLwy5WnObg7OuOjc/s400/halsewell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378342302920941794" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0