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Lot Essay
For a similar set see The Kaspar Stock Collection of Chess Sets, Christie's, South Kensington, lot 97, 27 May 2004.
At the start of the 19th Century the small German town of Erbach was one of the main centres of ivory carving and throughout the 20th Century. Established by the enlightened Count Franz I (1754-1823), who inspired by his travels on the Grand Tour, learnt how to turn and carve ivory himself and sought to establish a thriving industry in his home town. He founded a guild of ivory carvers in 1783. The tradition has continued, led by Christian Kehrer (1770-1869) and his son, Eduard, who established a school and later the fachschule for ivory and wood carving in 1892.
Carson Ritchie Ivory, A History and Collectors Guide, Thames and Hudson, 1987, page 142-143
According to Victor Keats, (The Illustrated Guide to World Chess Sets, Batsford Ltd, 1985, page 63-64), the most splendid sets came from the Erbach workshops from the late 19th century. The Medieval subjects were particularly popular, nostalgically depicting the king as Charlemagne, the knights typically modelled as rearing horses and the rooks as conical castles, reminiscent of the region's history.
At the start of the 19th Century the small German town of Erbach was one of the main centres of ivory carving and throughout the 20th Century. Established by the enlightened Count Franz I (1754-1823), who inspired by his travels on the Grand Tour, learnt how to turn and carve ivory himself and sought to establish a thriving industry in his home town. He founded a guild of ivory carvers in 1783. The tradition has continued, led by Christian Kehrer (1770-1869) and his son, Eduard, who established a school and later the fachschule for ivory and wood carving in 1892.
Carson Ritchie Ivory, A History and Collectors Guide, Thames and Hudson, 1987, page 142-143
According to Victor Keats, (The Illustrated Guide to World Chess Sets, Batsford Ltd, 1985, page 63-64), the most splendid sets came from the Erbach workshops from the late 19th century. The Medieval subjects were particularly popular, nostalgically depicting the king as Charlemagne, the knights typically modelled as rearing horses and the rooks as conical castles, reminiscent of the region's history.