A rare and unusually large French Paris type polychrome ivory chess set, probably mid 19th century

Details

A rare and unusually large French Paris type polychrome ivory chess set, probably mid 19th century
The figural pieces carved in the Gothic Revival style, the opposing sides distinguished by blue and red polychrome, each heightened in gilt, the royal pieces crowned and robed, the kings with sword and shield and orb and sceptre respectively, the blue queen shown gesturing with her hands, the red queen shown gazing into a looking glass, the blue bishops as a soldier with plumed helmet, holding a spear and shield and a youth holding an orb and shield respectively, the red bishops shown as a warrior standing in a sailing vessel and holding a bow and a Roman style centurion respectively, the blue knights astride rearing steeds, each semi-cuirassed, wearing plumed helmets and holding swords, the bases modelled with fortifications, the red knights carved as Roman soldiers in quadrigas, on tall cluster-column plinths, the blue rooks modelled with soldiers defending castellated turrets, the bases each carved with the emerging figure of the Wooden Horse of Troy, the red rooks as soldiers surmounted on .........?, the blue pawns as foot soldiers carrying swords and shields, the red pawns as Roman centurions, some minor damages and losses
kings -- 7¼in. (18.4cm) high; pawns -- 4¼in. (11.4cm) high (32)

Lot Essay

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
Exhibition catalogue: Staatliches Museum fur Volkerkunde Munchen, Privatsammlung Jager, Wandel im Laufe der Kunst - und Kulturgeschichte, U. Siebert, J.L. Rousselot, A. Jaeger, H. Jager. Pages 62-3.

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