Chess Set

19th century

A chess set (Chinese, 19th century) made of carved ivory. The 32 pieces of this chess set are broken up into 16 pieces of white natural ivory (.1a-o), and 16 of red-dyed ivory (.2a-o). Each set includes foot soldiers as pawns, elephants as rooks, mounted warriors as knights, bureaucratic officials as bishops, and emperors and empresses as kings and queens. The pawns on the white side have shields and swords where the red-dyed side’s pawns are armed with polearms. The knights on either side are also armed differently. The red-dyed set includes calvary men with shields, whereas the white side’s calvary have broadswords. Each king and queen have their own set of intricate robes, setting them further apart from the rest of the pieces. Figures in white costumes represent the Manchi regime which is the court of the Qing Dynasty. Figures on the red side are based one Ming Dynasty and represent the Han regime.

.1a-o = white set (16 pieces)
.2a-o = red set (16 pieces)

Chinese

ivory

.1a (King) = 4" x 1.5" x 1.25"

.1b (Queen) = 3.75" x 1.5" x 1.25"

.1c-d (Bishops) = 3.125" x 1.25" x 1"

.1e-f (Knights) = 2.75" x 1.75" x 0.625"

.1g-h (Rooks) = 3.5" x 1.625" x 0.75"

.1i-o (Pawns) = 2" x 0.5" x 0.875"

.2a (King) = 4" x 1.5" x 1.25"

.2b (Queen) = 3.625" x 1.5" x 1.125"

.2c-d (Bishops) = 3.625" x 1.5" x 1.125"

.2e-f (Knights) = 2.625" x 1.75" x 0.75"

.2g-h (Rooks) = 3.25" x 1.625" x 0.75"

.2i-o (Pawns) = 2" x 2" x 0.5"

Gift of Mrs. Gwendolen E. Rives, 1972.

PSNC.6165.1a-o - .2a-o