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Lot Essay
A chess set of related design, early 19th century, sold Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc, New York, 4 October 1979, lot 521.
Another similar type is illustrated by Hans and Siegfried Wichmann, CHESS, Munich 1960, plate 93/94. Wichmann has attributed this German carved boxwood set to the third quarter 16th century, and drawn comparisons with examples in the Jean Maunoury Collection, also making a reference to a similar king, astride a lion, in the Munich Collection (Cat. No. 221). Wichmann illustrates a single king from a different set in fig. 98, carved in boxwood as a bearded nobleman seated on a lion, also dating from the second half 16th century. Another similarity can be made with the pawns from a set in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (catalogue No.820), dating from the mid 16th century Germany. As with this lot, the figures stand on turned socle bases with galleries and the pawns stand as infantry men. Both earlier sets incorporate the court jester as a significant piece, depicted in humourous and farcical positions. This set also adopts the jester or fool in a jovial pose, riding a donkey.
Another similar type is illustrated by Hans and Siegfried Wichmann, CHESS, Munich 1960, plate 93/94. Wichmann has attributed this German carved boxwood set to the third quarter 16th century, and drawn comparisons with examples in the Jean Maunoury Collection, also making a reference to a similar king, astride a lion, in the Munich Collection (Cat. No. 221). Wichmann illustrates a single king from a different set in fig. 98, carved in boxwood as a bearded nobleman seated on a lion, also dating from the second half 16th century. Another similarity can be made with the pawns from a set in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (catalogue No.820), dating from the mid 16th century Germany. As with this lot, the figures stand on turned socle bases with galleries and the pawns stand as infantry men. Both earlier sets incorporate the court jester as a significant piece, depicted in humourous and farcical positions. This set also adopts the jester or fool in a jovial pose, riding a donkey.