These highly decorative chess sets from Rajasthan are desirable. Made originally for export to Great Britain, they date from the mid nineteenth century- around the time of the Indian Mutiny.
Pawns from these sets are often shown playing musical instruments, drums and flutes; collectors like to arrange them in procession. This set was originally sold at Sotheby’s New York, formerly in the collection of Philip Pfefier and the Marshall Chess Club, New York. The British Museum holds a similar example.