English Ivory Chess Set (probably Jaques), mid-19th century

English Ivory Chess Set (probably Jaques), mid-19th century

A mid 19th century English ivory chess set with a king size of 11 cm (4.33"). The material and the turning and carving are of superior quality, which indicates that this was made by one of the reputable London turners. The kings are quite unusual with a grooved crown and ogee shaped finials with slanted incisions. The queens with a spherical head. The rooks with ornamented bodies, six crenellations and large flags on top. The fine carving of the knights' heads shows a strong similarity with that of some non-Staunton Jaques sets. Whilst it is not one of the standard sets from this manufacturer, according to a very experienced fellow collector from the UK, there is a high probability that this is a Jaques set - possibly a one-off made to the customer's specifications. Whether Jaques or not, it is in any case a very impressive set in excellent condition.
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