BERHAMPUR, LATE 19TH EARLY 20TH CENTURY AND LATER

Details

AN ANGLO-INDIAN CARVED IVORY 'JOHN COMPANY' CHESS SET
BERHAMPUR, LATE 19TH EARLY 20TH CENTURY AND LATER
The kings carved as princes mounted in howdahs riding elephants, the queens as supporting princes, the bishops as lions and buffaloes, the knights as equestrian soldiers, the rooks as towers, the pawns as foot soldiers and sepoys, on double sided lotus leaf later bases

The king -- 4 1/8in. (10.5cm.) high; the pawn -- 2 7/8in. (7.2cm.) high

Special notice

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Lot Essay

These sets are traditionally described at 'John Company sets' as they represent the mercenary army of the British East India Company, which gained prominence after the Battle of Plassey (1757). The army was used to maintain the Company's interests over the native princes and this is reflected in the two factions of these chess sets. The sepoys, native Indian soldiers serving in the Bengal army for the British, are typically modelled as pawns bearing 'Brown Bess' rifles, and were a significant force outnumbering even the British Empire army at the time of 1857 mutiny.

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