Cantonese Export "Burmese" Ivory Chess Set, ca. 1820-1850
Cantonese Export Ivory Chess Set, "Burmese" Pattern, ca. 1820-1850
Cantonese export ivory set carved in the "Burmese" pattern presumably dating to the early / mid 19th century. King size is 90 mm (ca. 3.5"). One side stained in red, the other side left natural. The kings with pierced foliage crowns and feather / foliage spray finials. The queens similar, but of smaller size with bud finials. The bishops with engraved mitres. The knights as horses' heads. The rooks as pierced foliage turrets surmounted by flags, the white rooks with the Union Flag. The pawns with bud finials. All pieces with leaf-tip bases.
These sets are referred to as "Burmese", because this pattern was originally attributed to Burmese craftsmen. However, recent research, inter alia by Michael Mark, has established that these sets were actually made in Canton for the European market (cf. Michael Mark, Antique Indian Chess Sets, published by Förderkreis Schach-Geschichtsforschung e.V., 1997, p.36).
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