Antique Ivory Chess Sets

Decided to start a form for people to post pictures of their Antique Chess Sets

Hoping to see if people can help to identify the age, origin and value of these sets.

Interested in seeing what you have

That set is Indian, 20th century and not worth very much these days due to restrictions on ivory.

Hi! 

Can you help me identify this set? 

Is this handcrafted ivory? 

Any information you can give is highly appreciated.

Best,

Yappy

I'm sorry I haven't seen that set before and can't see any kind of grain in the picture to see what it's made out of.

Is this better? 

Thanks anyhoo. Cool chess set you’ve got

Sorry, still can't tell, maybe someone who has seen the set before will comment here eventually. Otherwise if you want to take a better picture for me maybe go closer in on the side of one of the knights in better light. I will say if it turns out to be ivory, it doesn't look old enough to me to qualify for an ESA antiques exemption so that you could sell it across state lines if that's why you're asking.

Recently picked these up at an auction, can anyone help me identify them? Is there anyway to clean them up? Thank you!

Cleaning ivory is something to be done with great care. Ivory dries out over time, resulting in cracking. Rehydrating the ivory can cause more issues.

The red pieces look to be painted rather than dyed (can you confirm?). Either way, I would be exceptionally wary cleaning them. I would take the base of the most worn pawn and test simple toothpaste first and then isopropyl. HOWEVER, I would be most tempted to leave them alone completely. Surface dirt can be removed with a dry brush or cotton buds.

For the white, I'd be more inclined to clean but do the same tests first. Ivory can be whitened with a mild acid - buy citric acid crystals and mix to the strength you want. When cleaning ivory utensils, peroxide solution is a good tool to remove ingrained stains. BUT I WILL SAY THIS AGAIN: I wouldn't do a deep clean on these. You are going to remove the patina along with a few stains. Instead, the simplest of cleans with dry brush and cotton wool buds.

Well first of all those are bone. I think that set is sometimes credited to Uhlig, though I'm not sure it's right. I was just looking for pictures of the set and one of them came from an article by Alan Dewey which might help you: http://www.chessspy.com/pages/BoneColours.htm

Late C19th Staunton pattern ivory set on a one-piece C20th Jaques board with painted light squares. Purchased just before the U.K. ban on buying & selling even antique sets enacted. A now or never acquisition? Some minor but well done restoration to one Bishop’s mitre and one Knight’s jaw. Typical patina on the white pieces and a few small cracks at the heads of a few pawns and scratches at the base of a Black Rook - all consistent with age. King 3.5 inches & board squares 1.9 inches.

IMO it makes no sense to limit future ownership to persons inheriting or otherwise being gifted these sets. Elimination of the legitimate market greatly reduces the incentive to care for these cultural assets. The black market shadow price for ivory will increase with supply in the hands of organised criminal gangs. Bad news for today’s elephants. Campaigners have tried to argue the ban will benefit endangered species but just look at the effects of prohibition in other areas - eg drugs and alcohol in the interwar USA.

To forbid any kind of ivory trade makes sense, because mankind is stupid and hunts elephants into extinction as mankind did with many other species.

Hi

@worldsman - Interesting, I was not aware that the UK ivory ban is already in effect. The last thing I remember was that secondary legislation was still required to implement the ban and the dismissal of the court appeal against the ban. But I totally agree with you. The ban on the trade of antique ivory items will have an effect on the elephant population, but I am afraid it will not be the desired one. The problems of today's elephants are not the trade of antique ivory in the US or the UK, but (1) the high demand in Asian countries, in particular China, which fuels the illegal trade with large amounts of money, which is directly correlating with (2) the inadequate funding of existing organisations and measures to combat poaching, which I believe has dramatically worsened due to COVID-19, and (3) the continuing rapid reduction in the size of the elephants' habitats due to a persistently high population growth in African countries.

@tmkroll - I agree, there is a resemblance with Uhlig sets in particular in the kings and rooks, but the knights are very different. I personally doubt that these sets can be attributed to Uhlig.

Here are some of my ivory sets.

The most beautiful ivory are tusks on living elephants.

@CandelaLight - agreed!

@EfimLG47 you have a superb collection! It looks like there may be a Bertram Jones set in the middle of the montage. I have no idea who made my set. It came with a wooden box with either WT or TW engrabed as a monograph. I am not sure if this is the maker or the original owner though. The pieces are unmarked. Stylistically the Bishops are slightly shorter than the Knights and the Knights have a drop jaw and two niches on their chests. These are all the clues I have to go on! And yes, @CandelaLight tusks are the most beautiful on living elephants but the animal from which my late C19th set were made is long deceased and the question is whether permitting trade in antiques helps, hinders or makes no difference to conservation. To clarify, the UK law is not yet in effect. The current expectation is it will come into force once the UK's transition arrangements with the EU end. Even when the law is in force it will remain lawful to own and use an ivory chess set.

@worldsman thank you very much and you are right, that one is a Bertram Jones set. Great quality of both, material and turning, with 4.3" kings, wonderful to play with. I sometimes even use it on my DGT Centaur, on which it works perfectly.