Chinese Export Ivory "Puzzleball" Chess Set, 4", 20th Century

Chines Export Ivory "Puzzleball" Chess Set, 4", 20th Century

This Chinese Export Ivory Chess Set is the little brother of my 6" Chinese Export Ivory "Puzzleball" Set. As in the other set, one side is stained brown, the other side left natural, in a padded fitting box. Many of these sets were made in the first half of the 20th century. King size is 4". All pieces are very skillfully crafted. Each piece incorporates a puzzleball knob, i.e. a hollow orb with one or more smaller carved balls free to move around inside. The outer orbs itself are richly ornamented and are depicting a Chinese dragon looping the orb with its body. The two dark dots visible on some of the pieces are not stains, but are the eyes of the dragon.
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