'Whittington Pattern’ Chess Set, circa 1890

An English “Whittington Pattern” Travelling Chess Set, circa 1890

probably retailed by Jaques, the folding mahogany case with two brass-hinged flaps (and clasps), the pegged bone pieces stained red and left natural, on alternate Indian rosewood and boxwood squares

Width: 40.cm (when open flat)

Dimensions: 20.5cm x 10cm x 6.5cm (when box closed)

Reference: Sir Alan Fersht: "Jaques and British Chess Company Chess Sets”, page 56, figure 102.

Stock Code: 1943

Lovely example of an antique “Whittington Pattern” chess set. The “Whittington” was a popular travelling chess set, retailed by Jaques between 1890 and 1940.

See Alan Fersht, ‘Jaques & British Chess Company Chess Sets”, page 56: “These (Whittington Pattern Sets) are rarely signed, and may have been bought in from other makers. The Whittington has two flaps which contain the pieces, and the Railway a piece of wood to cap the open end of the set when folded over. These date from about 1890 to 1940. Jaques were also cavalier about the use of names and sometimes interchanged them in advertisements..."

The pieces are made from bovine cow-bone, so can be exported from the UK to the United States.