17TH CENTURY

Details

A FINE AUGSBURG ENGRAVED IVORY AND EBONY CHESS BOARD
17TH CENTURY
The top with a recessed chess board decorated with engraved ivory birds and animals within a line inlaid border, the reverse with a playing board for Muhle, the interior for tric-trac with engraved inlaid ivory decoration, the side stamped 'EBEN' with an impressed town mark, the sides with engraved brass hinges and clasp
15 in. (38 cm.) square

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Lot Essay

The present board displays many characteristics of games boards attributed to the atelier of the Augsburg cabinet maker Ulrich Baumgartner (c.1580-1652).
Comparative Literature: Hans and Siegfried Wichmann, Chess, New York, 1964, Nos. 102-105; Wilfried Aeipel, Spielwelten der Kunst Kunstkammerspiele, Vienna, 1998, No.79; further folding boards sold in these rooms 25 June 1997, lot 694, and 6 June 2006, lot 238.

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