Hand-Painted Victorian Pattern Chess Set
(Warehouse 23)

Out Of Stock

This set of chess pieces is of a later design than the Lewis or German sets. It's obviously influenced by the Staunton design that has become the standard in chess tournaments, but with the faces of the people taken from a set of Victorian playing cards. The King and Queen have a fairy-tale look about them, and the Bishop is suitably stern and proper for the Victorian era. The Knight and Rook are conventional, and are faintly reminiscent of a John Tenniel engraving. The Pawns are rather like a lawn ornament or the pillars on a Victorian stone staircase. Kings are 3.5" (8.75cm).

All pieces were cast in Hydrostone (a trademark of the United States Gypsum Corporation), a reconstituted stone material used by sculptors. The pieces were hand-painted to resemble aged ivory, given several coats of acrylic varnish, and then coated with a museum-grade paste wax to enhance their appearance and feel. The bottoms are felted. No board is included. The set is large enough to require a board with 2" (5 cm) squares. The pieces displayed are the ivory ones, as they show off the detail best; the other half of the set is done in a dark red stain.

A close-up image of the red King and Queen can be seen here.

32 chess pieces
Stock #W23-9003 * $100.00

This item is no longer available through Warehouse 23

Related Links: Warehouse 23 - Chess