Antique Staunton 'Whitty Style' Chess Set
An English Boxwood & Ebony Staunton Chess Set in the 'Whitty' Style, circa 1890
the kings and queens with wider bases and sloping columns, the carved knights' heads with flared nostrils and bared teeth, in the original antique mahogany box with a sliding lid
King: 9cm high, base 4.1cm diameter
Pawn: 4.4cm high, base 3 cm diameter
Box: 18cm long, 13cm wide, 8.8cm high
Stock Reference: AS 1901
Condition
Boxwood Side:
Good. The set is technically 'unweighted' but has a nice, solid feel. Nice patina to the surface, with surface stratifications. Green baizes a bit stained. Note that the carving on the knights is slightly different from the black side- most probably because the work was carried out by two different carvers.
Ebony Side:
Good. Green baizes a bit stained. Note that the carving on the knights is slightly different from the boxwood side- most probably because the work was carried out by two different carvers. There is a chip to the bottom of the mane on black knight horse and a few minor chips to the spikes of the black Queen Crown.
Box:
Mahogany box with a sliding lid. Signs of glue or re-gluing to the joins of the base. Faint pencil inscription to the base. A few scuffs and minor age dents, otherwise 'Good'.
A Note From Luke
The set show similarities to a wooden Staunton set in the collection of Jon Crumiller- note the wider bases of the Kings and Queens and slanting columns. Not much is known about Richard Whitty of Liverpool, who is believed to have manufactured ivory Staunton's at the end of the 19th century. These sets have concentric turned rings beneath the felts.
This wooden set is technically 'unweighted' (ie doesn't incorporate a metal weight in the base) but still has a very nice solid feel to it. A decent antique example of the classic Staunton pattern.
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