MACAO, CIRCA 1810

This type of intricately carved bust chess set is traditionally attributed to the workshops of the Portuguese trading island of Macao, in the Canton River. One distinctive feature of the Macao sets is the representation of the European monarchy versus the Chinese, typically Carlos I of Portugal and his wife Marie Amelie. In this set the European King is carved wearing a top hat, a known variation, but less typically on the stained red side. For a similar Macao set with a stained European side The Kaspar Stock Collection of Chess Sets, Chrisitie's South Kensington, May 2002, lot 25.