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Luke Honey | Decorative Antiques, Chess, Backgammon & Games

an-english-ivory-chess-set-circa-1840

July 25, 2013

I really like this antique English playing chess set. Lovely quality, both the king and queen have impressive 'open crowns'. The queen is surmounted with a feather finial- sometimes referred to as the Calvert pattern. Nice original red cochineal stain too and comes in a lidded, fruitwood box. An excellent example of a period chess set. Sets such as these were sold by the high-end shops that clustered around The Strand, London; purveyors of luxury goods to the carriage trade. Highly recommended for anyone tempted by that 'first purchase', or looking for a decent quality antique chess set to play with.