antique-f-h-ayes-staunton-chess-set-circa-1880

Handsome late 19th century English Staunton Pattern chess set in the manner of, and probably by,  F. H. Ayres- the quality of carving on the knights is very similar to that of Jaques of London.

Ayres was a famous manufacturer of sports, games equipment and wooden carved rocking horses. Founded by Edward Ayres in 1810, Ayres were great rivals of Jaques, with frequent lawsuits filed for infringement of patents and copyright. Unlike Jaques, Ayres's chess sets are generally unsigned.