Lot Essay
The set was reputedly a gift from the Spanish Ambassador to the Portuguese Ambassador.
CHESS SETS
A Spanish brass and copper chess set and matching board, early 20th century
Details
A Spanish brass and copper chess set and matching board, early 20th century
on a medieval theme, the pieces in brass and copper hues, the kings robed and crowned, shown holding swords and sceptres, the queens crowned and robed, each shown lifting the hems of their dresses, the bishops as cuirassed warriors, with swords and sheilds, the knights as rearing caparisonned steeds, the rooks as towers, the pawns as semi-cuirassed foot soldiers holding axes and shields and armed with swords, all the pieces on stepped and beaded circular bases, the large stepped square board applied to the friezes with grotesque mask and acanthus cast mounts, two sides each with rows of four protruding handles issuing from mask headed brackets, with frieze drawers for the pieces, the angles with buttress supports surmounted by displayed eagles, on scoll feet, king -- 3 5/8in. (9.2cm) high, pawn -- 3¼in. (8.3cm) high, board -- 32in. (81.2cm) sq.
See Illustration.
on a medieval theme, the pieces in brass and copper hues, the kings robed and crowned, shown holding swords and sceptres, the queens crowned and robed, each shown lifting the hems of their dresses, the bishops as cuirassed warriors, with swords and sheilds, the knights as rearing caparisonned steeds, the rooks as towers, the pawns as semi-cuirassed foot soldiers holding axes and shields and armed with swords, all the pieces on stepped and beaded circular bases, the large stepped square board applied to the friezes with grotesque mask and acanthus cast mounts, two sides each with rows of four protruding handles issuing from mask headed brackets, with frieze drawers for the pieces, the angles with buttress supports surmounted by displayed eagles, on scoll feet, king -- 3 5/8in. (9.2cm) high, pawn -- 3¼in. (8.3cm) high, board -- 32in. (81.2cm) sq.
See Illustration.
Literature
A.E.J. Mackett-Beeson, Chessmen, Octopus, London 1973. P.92, fig.118.