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Kim's Chess Collection
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Asia, Africa, America
Vintage Figural Chess Set from Venezuela
OOAK, Charming, handmade porcelain chess set. Pieces represent two tribal figures in local customs. Even the cactus plants (Rooks) are different.
King 5.25" (13.3cm)
King 5.25" (13.3cm)
Fine Large Hand Carved Rat Chess Set
This set finely carved throughout with each pawn in individual posture, one side ebony the other in a red hardwood
Each pieces is carved from a block of wood. This set took a very skilled craftsman more than 3 months to create. Sourced out of Asia.
The individual rats tails are a highlight. Kings are 12cms tall.
Each pieces is carved from a block of wood. This set took a very skilled craftsman more than 3 months to create. Sourced out of Asia.
The individual rats tails are a highlight. Kings are 12cms tall.
Philippine Kamagong, second half of the 20th Century
Here is an interesting and fairly unique chess set from the the Philippine island of Luzon.
It is made of Kamagong (or Philippine ebony). The chess set was hand-made by Emiliano Blass in the remote village of Batad. Emiliano builds about three such chess sets a year.
The Ifugao are represented in white. The rook is a native hut with the ladder going up the side and a chicken on top. The knight is the local deer. The king has a head about to be sliced off. The queen has a tarp on her back used for harvesting sweet potato (kamote); she is using it as a headdress against rain. The bishop is holding a bowl specifically designed for holding rice wine for the celebration after the head hunting.
The Bontoc are represented in black. The Bontoc king is holding a head about to be sliced off, as are all the pawns. The rook shows a typical native hut, but in this case, the ladder goes up the inside and through the floor as was characteristic of this tribe. It also has an owl on top which is more common in the Bontoc region. The knight is a carabao (a wild water buffalo), and the queen has a baby on her back.
The king is 14cm (5.5").
Comparable Ifugao & Bontoc chess sets are shown in Ned Munger, Cultures, Chess & Art, Vol. 3 Pacific Islands & Asia, p. 163-164 & figures 57 & 58.
It is made of Kamagong (or Philippine ebony). The chess set was hand-made by Emiliano Blass in the remote village of Batad. Emiliano builds about three such chess sets a year.
The Ifugao are represented in white. The rook is a native hut with the ladder going up the side and a chicken on top. The knight is the local deer. The king has a head about to be sliced off. The queen has a tarp on her back used for harvesting sweet potato (kamote); she is using it as a headdress against rain. The bishop is holding a bowl specifically designed for holding rice wine for the celebration after the head hunting.
The Bontoc are represented in black. The Bontoc king is holding a head about to be sliced off, as are all the pawns. The rook shows a typical native hut, but in this case, the ladder goes up the inside and through the floor as was characteristic of this tribe. It also has an owl on top which is more common in the Bontoc region. The knight is a carabao (a wild water buffalo), and the queen has a baby on her back.
The king is 14cm (5.5").
Comparable Ifugao & Bontoc chess sets are shown in Ned Munger, Cultures, Chess & Art, Vol. 3 Pacific Islands & Asia, p. 163-164 & figures 57 & 58.
Indonesian Regal Ramayana Chess Set, ca. 1920-1950
An ornamental chess set made in Bali inspired by the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, the two ancient Hindu epics. According to the former owner the set was made in Bali / Indonesia in the 1920's or 1930's, but it could in my view also date to the mid-20th century. Ned Munger shows a similar set in "Cultures, Chess & Art", Vol. 3 (Pacific Islands & Asia), figure 68, which he describes as "Regal Rama" chess set. The set has a king size of 4.3" (11 cm) and is made of antler, one side natural, one side tea stained. The white king and queen as Rama and Sita. the white rooks as Hanuman, the monkey king, and the white knight as the epic eagle Garuda. The white pawns as Hanuman's army of monkeys eagerly waiting to fight the black king Rwana's demon army.
The carving of the pieces is extremely delicate, as can be seen in some of the close up pictures, which in my view makes the set special and rare. Sets of similar style and make were offered in chess auctions several times, inter alia by Bloomsbury Auctions in 2005 and 2006 and by Bonhams in 2008.
The pieces are displayed on a wooden board with the black squares made of ebony and the white squares and ornamental inlays made of bone.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the description and the photos.
The carving of the pieces is extremely delicate, as can be seen in some of the close up pictures, which in my view makes the set special and rare. Sets of similar style and make were offered in chess auctions several times, inter alia by Bloomsbury Auctions in 2005 and 2006 and by Bonhams in 2008.
The pieces are displayed on a wooden board with the black squares made of ebony and the white squares and ornamental inlays made of bone.
Many thanks to Holger Langer for the description and the photos.
Japanese chess set
Japanese chess set in a fitted box. The Samurai themed set is completely hand carved, and each piece is unique; the kings are 128mm tall with a base of 60mm x 60mm and are depicted as Samurai warlords; the bishops are scribes or sages, knights as mounted warriors, the rooks are braziers and each pawn is depicted as a battle banner or house "mons" showing the clan sign of those engaged in the conflict.
The set represents the Battle of Arita-Nakaide which took place in 1517 between the forces of Takeda Motoshige and Mori Motonari. The scene carved on top and front of the box depicts the inhabitants of a castle under siege venturing out to attack the besieging forces as happened in the above mentioned battle. The fitted box and lid for the set are box signed in Japanese.
The set is probably from the mid 20th century. The box measures 36 x 26 x 16cm.
The set represents the Battle of Arita-Nakaide which took place in 1517 between the forces of Takeda Motoshige and Mori Motonari. The scene carved on top and front of the box depicts the inhabitants of a castle under siege venturing out to attack the besieging forces as happened in the above mentioned battle. The fitted box and lid for the set are box signed in Japanese.
The set is probably from the mid 20th century. The box measures 36 x 26 x 16cm.
Middle or South American Figural Chess Set, 1950-2000
A figural chess set presumably from the second half of the 20th century and made in Middle or South America. The set is very large with a king size of 10 cm and massive and very heavy pieces (shown here on a chess board with squares of 8.5 cm / 3.35"). But apart from that I know little to nothing about it. The motifs seem to relate to the Aztec or Mayan culture. The pieces are - at least partly - made of wood and colourfully lacquered. I am not sure, however, if wood is the only material. It could be a material mix including also parts made of terracotta or clay. Further, I have no idea if my setup is correct, i.e. if all the pieces are associated with the right position.
All pieces are shown in a kneeling or sitting position. The kings are wearing a flat cap and are holding what seems to be a monkey. The queens are wearing a high helmet crown and ear jewellery. The bishops nude with erect penis wearing a traditional headdress and a rope around their neck. The knights very colourfully decorated wearing a high headdress with a sun symbol and a cape on their back in the shape of a bird spreading its wings as well as a fish hanging from their lower lips. The rooks as sturdy warriors wearing what seems to be a chain mail helmet and golden arm rings. The pawns as prisoners with a rope around their neck and their arms rope bound behind their back.
Description and photos by Holger Langer
All pieces are shown in a kneeling or sitting position. The kings are wearing a flat cap and are holding what seems to be a monkey. The queens are wearing a high helmet crown and ear jewellery. The bishops nude with erect penis wearing a traditional headdress and a rope around their neck. The knights very colourfully decorated wearing a high headdress with a sun symbol and a cape on their back in the shape of a bird spreading its wings as well as a fish hanging from their lower lips. The rooks as sturdy warriors wearing what seems to be a chain mail helmet and golden arm rings. The pawns as prisoners with a rope around their neck and their arms rope bound behind their back.
Description and photos by Holger Langer
Nepalese Figural Chess Set, ca. 1920-1950
Here is an interesting figural chess set with Asian motifs. The same type of set is shown in Ned Munger's Cultures, Chess & Art - Vol. 3 Pacific Islands & Asia in fig. 75. He attributes this chess set to Cambodia, because the queen in the set is shown as a female dancer, which Ned Munger identifies as an "apsara", a classical female dancer in the Cambodian mythology. I am afraid that this is one of the very few examples, in which Ned Munger is wrong. The set is of Nepalese origin. The rooks and bishops are designed as temples, which show two of the main architectural styles of Nepalese temples. The bishops are temples in the Stupa style, characterised by a typical hemispherical dome shape with a pyramid-like structure on top and a square base. Believed to have been introduced by Emperor Ashoka in Nepal, this style is said to represent the five elements of Buddhism, namely, earth, water, fire, air and space.
This one resembles the Stupa of Bodnath in the Kathmandu vicinity in particular. The rooks are temples in the Pagoda style and I believe they are meant to represent the Changu Narayan temple. I come to this conclusion for a specific reason, which is the design of the king. The king is depicted as a seated deity with a snake chain, which bears great resemblance to a statue of the praying Garuda with the snake god Takshaka, which is located in said Changu Narayan temple in the Kathmandu Valley. The queens, as already mentioned, are shown as female dancers, very much resembling Nepalese Maruni dancers, which are characterised by hats with long scarves attached to them. The knights are leaping Nepalese temple lions. The pawns are peasants kneeling in prayer.
Ned Munger reports that he bought the set shown in his book in London in 1951. Others have dated similar sets to 1890-1920, which may be a bit too old. I personally believe that the set shown here was made between 1920 and 1950. It comes with the original folding board, which is rather rare.
Description and photos by Holger Langer
This one resembles the Stupa of Bodnath in the Kathmandu vicinity in particular. The rooks are temples in the Pagoda style and I believe they are meant to represent the Changu Narayan temple. I come to this conclusion for a specific reason, which is the design of the king. The king is depicted as a seated deity with a snake chain, which bears great resemblance to a statue of the praying Garuda with the snake god Takshaka, which is located in said Changu Narayan temple in the Kathmandu Valley. The queens, as already mentioned, are shown as female dancers, very much resembling Nepalese Maruni dancers, which are characterised by hats with long scarves attached to them. The knights are leaping Nepalese temple lions. The pawns are peasants kneeling in prayer.
Ned Munger reports that he bought the set shown in his book in London in 1951. Others have dated similar sets to 1890-1920, which may be a bit too old. I personally believe that the set shown here was made between 1920 and 1950. It comes with the original folding board, which is rather rare.
Description and photos by Holger Langer
Yoruda Nigeria Wood Chess Set
Cut set made in the Yoruba area in Nigeria - in thornwood, natural and dark - small parts are glued together, for charming poppets - pawns are babies, the king isa tribal chief, and the queen a lady in traditional head turban. This set sports interesting rooks, standing for thatch-roofed huts. Kings 82, queens 88 mm! (reference - chess-museum.com).
Comparable chess set is shown in Ned Munger, Cultures, Chess & Art, Vol. 1 Africa, p. 45 & figure 22.
Comparable chess set is shown in Ned Munger, Cultures, Chess & Art, Vol. 1 Africa, p. 45 & figure 22.
Vintage Indonesian Polychrome Carved Wood
Indonesian Polychrome Carved Wood, Figural chess set, Modern style Rama. Likely Java early 20th century. Modeled as various deities. Beautifully painted. Ref Christies Catalog Sep 20, 2006 lot 53.
Similar chess set is shown in Ned Munger, Cultures, Chess & Art, Vol. 3 Pacific Islands & Asia, figure 67.
Many thanks to Israel Raphaelli for the description and the photos.
Similar chess set is shown in Ned Munger, Cultures, Chess & Art, Vol. 3 Pacific Islands & Asia, figure 67.
Many thanks to Israel Raphaelli for the description and the photos.
Madagascar Chess Set, 1970s
An interesting tribal figure Chess Set from Madagascar, 1978
Hand carved with many details, the Set is made from a light Wood similar Boxwood, the Black Side made from natural dark Wood.
The Pawns representing a Tribe, King and Queen as missionaries.
Comparable chess set is shown in Ned Munger, Cultures, Chess & Art, Vol. 1 Africa, p. 29 & figure 10.
Hand carved with many details, the Set is made from a light Wood similar Boxwood, the Black Side made from natural dark Wood.
The Pawns representing a Tribe, King and Queen as missionaries.
Comparable chess set is shown in Ned Munger, Cultures, Chess & Art, Vol. 1 Africa, p. 29 & figure 10.
Wood Balinese Sea Life Chess Set
Wood Balinese Sea Life Chess Set King 7.25 inches
Turn of the century Japanese Chess Set
Turn of the century Japanese Chess Set
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