EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Details

A MONGOLIAN POLYCHROME AND CARVED WOOD FIGURAL CHESS SET
EARLY 20TH CENTURY
The kings seated, the queens modelled as foo dogs, the bishops as camels, the knights as horses, rooks as horse drawn carts, pawns as turkey and chickens, one side stained terracotta, the opposing green
The king -- 1¾in. (4.5cm.) high; the pawn -- 1¼in. (3cm.) high

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve. No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis. This lot is subject to storage and collection charges. **For Furniture and Decorative Objects, storage charges commence 7 days from sale. Please contact department for further details.**

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Lot Essay

For similar sets see Christie's, 28 March 2006 lots 595 and 596. Dr. Rodolfo Pozzi,The Chess Collector, Volume X 2001, p.17, refers to various Mongolian sets and illustrates a comparable 19th century wood set. Gareth Williams also discusses the symbolism of the Mongolian chess pieces, pointing to the bishops modelled as Bactrian camels, the horses and carts as essential components of nomadic life. For further details see Master Pieces; The Story of Chess, Apple Press 2000, page 110 & 111.

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