Lot 41:
A Collection of Two Complete Chess Sets with Integrated Wooden Pedestal Storage Table
Description
A collection of two complete thirty-two piece chess sets housed within a dark-finished wooden pedestal table. The table features a circular central support resting on a four-point base with metal-capped feet. The tabletop is square with two integrated drawers, each containing a red velvet-lined molded insert to store sixteen individual pieces. The playing surface is composed of an ivory-toned material, possibly resin or a similar composite, with dark squares featuring an incised floral pattern. The border of the board is decorated with multiple tiers of relief carvings, including geometric star motifs with gold-toned accents, rope-twist molding, and a scrolled foliate outer edge.
The first set is a historical figurative set based on the British Raj and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. It consists of sixteen hand-painted cast resin or composite figures representing British and Indian personages. The British side includes a king in coronation robes, cavalry knights on black horses, and pawns in red jackets with Kilmarnock caps and rifles. The Indian side features a queen in a traditional sari, bishops in yellow and white dress, and rooks designed as architectural chhatris. The set is accompanied by two printed booklets. One booklet is an adhesive-bound pamphlet with a tan cover featuring a printed illustration of a pawn and black text reading THE RAJ CHESS SET INTRODUCTION. A second interior page is titled INDIAN PAWN Sepoy, Bengal Native Infantry and provides historical text regarding the 1857 mutiny.
The second set consists of thirty-two turned and polished wooden pieces in a traditional Staunton style. One side is finished in a light natural wood tone, and the opposing side is finished in a dark brown stain. Each piece features simple incised ring decorations around the base.
The figurative pawns measure approximately 2.25 inches in height, as determined by the provided scale of a 23.88 mm diameter coin.
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