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English - Traveling Chess Set, 19th century

English

Traveling Chess Set, 19th century

Wood with inlay and brass hinges; bone chessmen , 17.5 x 9.2 x 3.7 cm (6 7/8 x 3 5/8 x 1 7/16 in.)

Commentary

The design of this folding game board is both clean and highly functional.  When open, the board provides a relatively large area on which to play chess; peg holes keep each piece in place.  When folded, the board becomes a perfect, easily transported rectangular box. This traveling chess set is made of wood with inlays, while the pieces are carved bone.  The red and white pieces are an example of the St. George style, a chess set style popular in England before the black-and-white Staunton chess set became the standard style in 1849.