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Kim's Chess Collection
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Asia, Africa, America
Large Finely Carved Bear Wolf Chess Set
All pieces modeled as bears and wolves on rock plints. Kings 13.5cms
Note the high quality carving, all pieces in unique poses, one off commissioned set by exceptional carver taking over six months to create.
Note the high quality carving, all pieces in unique poses, one off commissioned set by exceptional carver taking over six months to create.
Large Sri Lankan or Indian Set
This set was originally purchased in 1999 in Sri Lanka. This is a most unusual set, as the knights are peacocks and the rest of the pieces are deity pieces, e.g. small Ganesha figures for pawns. The pieces are made of local hardwoods. King size 14.5 cm, pawns 9 cm.
Hinduism is prevalent in Sri Lanka as well so there’s that.
Peacock is the national bird of India. Pawns represent Hindu God Ganesha, said to be the remover of obstacles. What’s shown as the queen is another God Murugan/Skanda (brother of Ganesha, both sons of Shiva)
Also, an interesting connection that could explain the peacocks- Hindu Gods have celestial vehicles/animals and the Peacock is the vehicle of Murugan. The Bishops look like it’s a devotee or priest singing a hymn in praise of god, with the raised right hand. The rooks look like a structure in Hindu temples.
In conclusion, a set themed on Hinduism carved in Sri Lanka or India. Sri Lanka is plausible considering it was purchased there.
Thanks to Holger Langer and Vikhram Ravi for the description.
Hinduism is prevalent in Sri Lanka as well so there’s that.
Peacock is the national bird of India. Pawns represent Hindu God Ganesha, said to be the remover of obstacles. What’s shown as the queen is another God Murugan/Skanda (brother of Ganesha, both sons of Shiva)
Also, an interesting connection that could explain the peacocks- Hindu Gods have celestial vehicles/animals and the Peacock is the vehicle of Murugan. The Bishops look like it’s a devotee or priest singing a hymn in praise of god, with the raised right hand. The rooks look like a structure in Hindu temples.
In conclusion, a set themed on Hinduism carved in Sri Lanka or India. Sri Lanka is plausible considering it was purchased there.
Thanks to Holger Langer and Vikhram Ravi for the description.
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.
Exotic Teak Wood Buddha Chess Set from Bali, Indonesia
Exotic Indonesian Chess Set made from Teak Wood.
This is Hindu or Ramyana, Buddhist, and is highly unique
This is a big and very well-made set with moving parts on the Rooks that form a Rattle. The Kings are a 5" tall Buddha, and the Queens Cats!
A very unusual set from Bali, made of Teak. Probably only a handful made between 1940 and 1960. All pieces are different, even the pawns.
This is Hindu or Ramyana, Buddhist, and is highly unique
This is a big and very well-made set with moving parts on the Rooks that form a Rattle. The Kings are a 5" tall Buddha, and the Queens Cats!
A very unusual set from Bali, made of Teak. Probably only a handful made between 1940 and 1960. All pieces are different, even the pawns.
OOAK Large Kachina Dolls Chess Set
Handcrafted by American Indians artists of the Southwest using materials indigenous to that area. Mainly carved of roots of the cotton-tree and dressed and decorated using sheep skin, feathers and more. Features many aspects of life, art and culture of Hopi, Navajo and Zuni Indians of today and ancient past. Including figures such as Sunface, Mudhead, Crow, Owl, Wolf, Bear, Broadface, etc.
Kachina dolls are figures carved, typically from cottonwood root, by Hopi people to instruct young girls and new brides about katsinas or katsinam, the immortal beings that bring rain, control other aspects of the natural world and society, and act as messengers between humans and the spirit world.
Colorful, faithfully guardians of life and culture. Several pieces are double; the Bear, Wolf and Owl have removable head-masks and under there is a human. Signed by individual artists.
King is 13" (33 cm)
Kachina dolls are figures carved, typically from cottonwood root, by Hopi people to instruct young girls and new brides about katsinas or katsinam, the immortal beings that bring rain, control other aspects of the natural world and society, and act as messengers between humans and the spirit world.
Colorful, faithfully guardians of life and culture. Several pieces are double; the Bear, Wolf and Owl have removable head-masks and under there is a human. Signed by individual artists.
King is 13" (33 cm)
African "Bakuba" Tribal set, Congo, Mid 20th Century
The pieces depicting the court of Kata-Mbula, the bishops as symbols of the Senufo Secret Society, the knights as double-headed crocodiles representing divine protection of domestic animals, the rooks as ritual cups, and the pawns as spirits.
The king -- 5½in. (14cm.) high; the pawn -- 2 3/8in. (6cm.) high.
Together with an African ebony and hardwood 'Makondi' tribal chess set, mid 20th century, the knights modelled as giraffe heads, the king -- 3in.(7.5cm.) high; the pawn -- 2¼in. (5.7cm.) high; an African carved ebony and hardwood Madagascan tribal chess set, mid 20th century, the knights modelled as bulls, the king -- 3 1/8in. (7.8cm.) high; the pawn -- 1½in. (3cm.) high (3)
https://www.christies.com/lot/an-african-carved-ebony-and-hardwood-bakuba-4772482/
The king -- 5½in. (14cm.) high; the pawn -- 2 3/8in. (6cm.) high.
Together with an African ebony and hardwood 'Makondi' tribal chess set, mid 20th century, the knights modelled as giraffe heads, the king -- 3in.(7.5cm.) high; the pawn -- 2¼in. (5.7cm.) high; an African carved ebony and hardwood Madagascan tribal chess set, mid 20th century, the knights modelled as bulls, the king -- 3 1/8in. (7.8cm.) high; the pawn -- 1½in. (3cm.) high (3)
https://www.christies.com/lot/an-african-carved-ebony-and-hardwood-bakuba-4772482/
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)
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.
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
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
Turkish Chess Set, second half of the 20th century
A Turkish figural set made of meerschaum, one side natural, ie light white, and the other side stained in a light brown tone. The king is depicted as an oriental ruler with a turban. The queen is depicted as the ruler's vizier. The bishops are depicted in the form of a kneeling elephant with raised trunk, the knights as a rearing horse. The rooks with masonry and spiral corner pillars. The pawns as kneeling subjects with fez. The king size is 10 cm.
Since meerschaum can be worked well, there are numerous carvers in Turkey who produce very fine works from this material, including ornamental chess sets. Albeit not truly common, such sets are rarely valuable compared to other figural sets, but have an attractiveness all of their own and can be acquired for reasonable prices.
Meerschaum is a mineral similar to alabaster, also known as sepiolite. Chemically, it is a magnesium silicate that belongs to the class of phyllosilicates. It is formed by the hydrothermal transformation of serpentinite. Sepiolite has a relatively low density of approx. 2.26 g/cm³ for minerals, but is also very porous, which is why it contains a lot of air (similar to pumice).
Meerschaum is found in numerous places around the world, but only in large quantities in a few locations. The best-known deposit, which is also the source of most products made from meerschaum, is the province of Eskişehir in the Anatolian part of Turkey. Meerschaum, called Lületaş in the local language, has been mined there since the early 18th century from deposits up to 150m underground. Mining is done in blocks, which is why the meerschaum from there is also called block meerschaum. It is extremely light and has a very white, sometimes slightly pinkish or yellowish color. Other larger deposits are found in the Amboseli Basin in Tanzania, which is why the material extracted there is also called Amboseli meerschaum, but it is considered to be of poorer quality because it is heavier and of a rather gray color. In addition, there is a kind of "second hand" meerschaum, the massamer meerschaum or pressed meerschaum, which is obtained from the remains of the processing of block meerschaum by washing, grinding and mixing it with lime and binder and drying it. The material obtained in this way can then be used again to cut blocks for further processing, but these have a much lower degree of purity because of the lime and binder.
When wet, meerschaum is easy to shape and work with, but when dry it is hard and extremely heat-resistant, making it particularly popular in pipe production. Pipe bowls made of meerschaum are - unlike pipe bowls made of wood - not only resistant to excessive heating, but also act as a natural filter due to the porosity of the raw material.
According to legend, the name "meerschaum" (sea foam) is derived from the strong porosity and the associated low weight, which makes meerschaum lighter than water in some cases, the literal translation of the Latin term "spuma maris". This was coined in 1788 by Abraham Gottlob Werner, according to whom it was initially assumed that the white sepiolite floating on the water surface was hardened spray. However, this is probably a (persistent) rumor, because according to other sources, the name goes back to the supply of Austrian pipe manufacturers with meerschaum from Turkey and is nothing more than the Germanized version of the Levantine trade name "Mertscavon". The name sepiolite was coined by the German geologist Ernst Friedrich Glocker, who was able to prove in 1847 that meerschaum was formed from deposits of fossil shells and fish cartilage.
Description and photos by Holger Langer
Since meerschaum can be worked well, there are numerous carvers in Turkey who produce very fine works from this material, including ornamental chess sets. Albeit not truly common, such sets are rarely valuable compared to other figural sets, but have an attractiveness all of their own and can be acquired for reasonable prices.
Meerschaum is a mineral similar to alabaster, also known as sepiolite. Chemically, it is a magnesium silicate that belongs to the class of phyllosilicates. It is formed by the hydrothermal transformation of serpentinite. Sepiolite has a relatively low density of approx. 2.26 g/cm³ for minerals, but is also very porous, which is why it contains a lot of air (similar to pumice).
Meerschaum is found in numerous places around the world, but only in large quantities in a few locations. The best-known deposit, which is also the source of most products made from meerschaum, is the province of Eskişehir in the Anatolian part of Turkey. Meerschaum, called Lületaş in the local language, has been mined there since the early 18th century from deposits up to 150m underground. Mining is done in blocks, which is why the meerschaum from there is also called block meerschaum. It is extremely light and has a very white, sometimes slightly pinkish or yellowish color. Other larger deposits are found in the Amboseli Basin in Tanzania, which is why the material extracted there is also called Amboseli meerschaum, but it is considered to be of poorer quality because it is heavier and of a rather gray color. In addition, there is a kind of "second hand" meerschaum, the massamer meerschaum or pressed meerschaum, which is obtained from the remains of the processing of block meerschaum by washing, grinding and mixing it with lime and binder and drying it. The material obtained in this way can then be used again to cut blocks for further processing, but these have a much lower degree of purity because of the lime and binder.
When wet, meerschaum is easy to shape and work with, but when dry it is hard and extremely heat-resistant, making it particularly popular in pipe production. Pipe bowls made of meerschaum are - unlike pipe bowls made of wood - not only resistant to excessive heating, but also act as a natural filter due to the porosity of the raw material.
According to legend, the name "meerschaum" (sea foam) is derived from the strong porosity and the associated low weight, which makes meerschaum lighter than water in some cases, the literal translation of the Latin term "spuma maris". This was coined in 1788 by Abraham Gottlob Werner, according to whom it was initially assumed that the white sepiolite floating on the water surface was hardened spray. However, this is probably a (persistent) rumor, because according to other sources, the name goes back to the supply of Austrian pipe manufacturers with meerschaum from Turkey and is nothing more than the Germanized version of the Levantine trade name "Mertscavon". The name sepiolite was coined by the German geologist Ernst Friedrich Glocker, who was able to prove in 1847 that meerschaum was formed from deposits of fossil shells and fish cartilage.
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
Vintage Japanese "Netsuke" style chess set
Vintage Japanese "Netsuke" style chess set aka the Army of Occupation set because most were sold to the Army of Occupation troops after WWII. One side natural the other darkened brown. Sublime, detailed Hand Carved chess set. The pieces in traditional dress, with toggle aperture.
Extreme details are further accented with ink-marking for emphasis and embellishment of additional features of the pieces. Signed-marked on the underside of both Kings, as shown for both Kings. Outstanding quality with tiny variations due to hand carving, no two pieces are exactly the same.
Extreme details are further accented with ink-marking for emphasis and embellishment of additional features of the pieces. Signed-marked on the underside of both Kings, as shown for both Kings. Outstanding quality with tiny variations due to hand carving, no two pieces are exactly the same.
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