"chess set", "chess sets", "chess pieces", "chess museum", "schaak"
 

Asia


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China. The 1st set does have exceptional beautiful pieces. Especially the voluptuous lady as white Queen. I have never seen a Queen like that in Chinese sets. Unfortunately it is not a complete set, but the pieces were that nice that I could not resist to buy it. And that Queen!

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  • China, Macao?
  • Early 19th century
  • Ivory Q 10.6; pw 6.4; pz 6.7

China. Next you see 2 Macao bust sets which both are very well carved. The set with faded red pieces is in my opinion the better one. It is one of my favourites.

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  • China, "Macao bust"
  • 1st half 19th century
  • Ivory Kw 9.3; pw 6.7; Kz 9.0; pz 6.6
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  • China, "Macao bust"
  • 1st half 19th century
  • Ivory Kw 8.2; Kz 10.2; p 6.4-7.0

China. The other 2 ivory sets are just common antique Chinese sets. Most people are amazed at the puzzle ball chess set, but it is still very common.

  • China, Indo
  • Mid 19th century
  • Ivory Kw 12.4; Kz 11.4; p 5.1
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  • China, Canton
  • Late 19th century
  • Ivory Kw 14.1; Kz 15.3; p 6.4

China. The wooden set, as told to me early 20th century, is not that common. I have been told that it would represent the Chinese court, but I'm not convinced about that. Too much warriors!

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  • China
  • Early 20th century
  • Lime Kw 7.8; pw 4.3; Kz 7.0; pz 4.0
  • Box 32.2×17.4×8.4
  • Board 30.3×29.7

China. The bone set at the end is a very common tourist set.

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  • China
  • 1990
  • Bone K 9.1; p 6.2

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India. It starts with a so called "Jaipur" silver enamelled chess set in a very cute form. In that form it is rare. Unfortunately it is not in a very good condition. The enamel is coming loose.

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  • India, "Jaipur"
  • ca. 1950
  • Enamelled silver K 5.2 and base Ø 3.5; p 3.2 and base Ø 2.8

India. In the course of the time I have collected 6 of those "Rajasthan" sets, which are all made for the tourist market and cannot compete with the antique ones. My dating may not be accurate, but it is as is told to me. However you cannot believe everyone. All these sets are in a presentation box, designed to show the pieces for easier sale. In the list you see 2 tiny and a big ivory one, two normal sized wooden and one bigger wooden set. There exist bigger sets as well, where the figures are full width in stead of these flat ones. In the sets listed here you see full width Kings and Queens at the larger wooden set only, but the other pieces of that set are flat as well.

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  • India, "Rajasthan"
  • Early 20th century
  • Ivory K 4.4; p 1.9
  • Cassette 34.5×21.1×4.7
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  • India, "Rajasthan"
  • 1958
  • Ivory K 4.7; p 2.2
  • Cassette 32.8×20.6×3.5
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  • India, "Rajasthan"
  • Mid 20th century
  • Sandelwood + coromandel K 8.2; p 4.2
  • Cassette 40.5×22.8×3.
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  • India, "Rajasthan"
  • Mid 20th century
  • Sandelwood + coromandel K 8.6; p 3.1
  • Cassette 36.9×20.4×4.0
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  • India, "Rajasthan"
  • 20th century
  • Ivory K 10.8; p 4.6
  • Cassette 53.3×28.4×5.3
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  • India, "Rajasthan"
  • 1998
  • Sandelwood + coromandel K 11.8; p 3.9
  • Cassette 50.2×25.9×6.1

India. The last set in this listing is only half a set. It was a gift and the other side was never there. Pieces are crudely carved, except for the elephants which are very nice. The elephant pieces have also a little different colour.

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  • India, Varanasi, half a set
  • 1999
  • Soapstone K 10.1; p 7.6

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Indonesia. Rama is the main protagonist or hero of the Ramayana tale. Portrayed as the seventh avatar of god Vishnu and as the epitome of virtue, he is the eldest and favourite son of Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya and his chief queen, Kausalya. Dasharatha is forced by Kaikeyi, the second of his three wives, to command Rama to relinquish his right to the throne and go into exile with his wife Sita. That lasted a period of fourteen years. With help of Hanuman, Angada and king Sugriva - which were "Varana" what originally means forest man and now has become monkey - Rama kills the evil and powerful demon king Ravana, who abducted his wife Sita, and later returns to Ayodhya to form an ideal state.

There are 6 Bali sets with this Ramayana theme listed here. The King is Rama, in most sets sitting on the Garuda, Queen is Sita and Bishop, Rook and pawns are the "Varana" (monkeys). Knight could be Ravana (normally shown as man with multiple heads and arms)? The quality of the carving of these sets varies greatly. The best carved sets can be very costly and you do not see those in my collection.

The 1st set is, according Munger/III 2000, the old way to represent the Ramayana. The carving is simple but expressive. The 2nd set is a bit uncommon and like the 3rd set it is carved quite well, while the 1st coloured one is carved moderately and the 2nd coloured and the last uncoloured one aren't carved that well. But I have seen much worse too!

These sets are made for the tourist market and, except the 1st and 2nd one, are found in huge quantities. The quality of the 3rd set isn't seen that much either. They come often with a teak storage box annex board as shown at the last set. Sometimes there are legs that can be turned out so that the box can be used as a chess table as well.

The last Bali set does have primitively made disks and dices to play backgammon and checkers as well. Maybe some other game too, because there are 16 disks in each colour. Or is there just one spare?

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  • Indonesia, Bali, "Ramayana story"
  • 2nd half 20st century
  • Wood K 12.3; p 6.3
  • Indonesia, Bali, "Ramayana story"
  • 1970
  • Sawo + djati K 13.4+14.1; p 7.3-8.0
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  • Indonesia, Bali, "Ramayana story"
  • 1979
  • Paduk (or sawo?) + coromandel K 10.9; p 6.0
  • Box/board (later period) 38.3×18.6×8.3
  • Indonesia, Bali, "Ramayana story"
  • 1980
  • Wood K 12.8; p 6.6
  • Set was listed as from Thailand/Burma
  • Indonesia, Bali, "Ramayana story"
  • 1990
  • Wood K 9.4; p 4.6
  • Set was listed as from Thailand/Burma
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  • Indonesia, Bali, "Ramayana story"
  • 1990
  • Paduk K 10.3; p 4.9
  • Box/board 38.0×18.5×8.1

Indonesia. The theme of this Bali set isn't clear to me yet. But it probably goes about certain gods and of course the Garuda (Rook?). This set is carved moderately.

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  • Indonesia, Bali
  • 1980
  • Wood K 11.3; p 4.7
  • Box/board 45.5×22.3×9.0 (closed)

Indonesia. Sets from Java are always very colourful. This one too, but all pieces are quite monochrome. Also the figures are a bit unusual.

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  • Indonesia, Java
  • 2010
  • Wood K 13.3; p 6.6

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Japan.This older version of a "Kokeshi" doll based chess set is very scarce according Munger/III 2000. The colours and patina are very nice at this set, which is one of my favourites.

  • Japan, "Kokeshi"
  • Mid 20th century
  • Wood K 8.1; p 5.2

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Kyrgyzstan. Maybe because Kyrgyzstan was under soviet influence in the period of 1919 till 1991 that  these sets are often indicated as Russian. The sets come in several variations, but are very recognizable by their simple abstract forms which are richly decorated with figures in traditional costumes. Note also the decoration on the board. Sometimes these boards are stamped with "made in USSR", but not this one.

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  • Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek
  • 20th century
  • Lime K 15.2; p 7.6
  • Box/board 50.0×25.0×7.0 (closed)

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Myanmar. In Myanmar chess has its own rules and initial position. I'm not sure whether all pieces move like our chess. Normal traditional pieces to play Burmese chess are figural as well, see Myanmar at "To Play With" menu. Here several other sets from Myanmar. Maybe set 2 is also meant for play.

I have to say that it is very difficult to date these sets. I suspect that some of them are aged and actually of a recent date. This is highly suspected at the 1st set (dated 1910 or older) and a bit suspected at the 2nd set (dated 1950). Although these 2 sets could have some age. The other sets are of more recent date, which is most likely accurate.

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  • Myanmar
  • 1910 or older
  • Lacquer (unpolished) K 9.2+9.6; p 6.3
  • Box/Board 41.5×20.6×8.1 (closed)
  • Myanmar
  • ca. 1950
  • Wood K 7.0; p 6.0
  • Myanmar
  • ca. 2000
  • Wood K 8.4; p 7.7
  • Myanmar
  • ca. 2000
  • Metal K 5.8; p 5.2

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Philippines. A friend of mine went to the Philippines in 1978 and in 1980. He bought the 1st set in Baguio. Not sure who did make this set.
July 2021 a similar set was offered on Ebay as "Vintage Philippine Maria Clara Chess Set Narra & Kamagong Wood 5”K". The description said a.o.: The set is inspired by the local "folk heroine" Maria Clara from the novel of Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal (1861-1896). The heroine inspired a dance, a song and a form of national dress. The set originates from the Ivatan people of the Batanes islands, which is the northern most region of the Philippines. As with other higher quality Filipino sets, the natural hardwoods are polished and oiled. The white side is made from Acacia or Narra (Light Brown), and the black side is made from Kamagong (Dark Brown).

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  • Philippines, Baguio, "Maria Clara chess set"
  • 1978
  • Wood K 12.0; p 5.5

The 2nd set was bought in an Igorot Village on Luzon. Igorot is the umbrella name for a number of indigenous peoples in the northern Philippines, a region with a lot of rice cultivation in terraces. The chess set shows it in the rice bowl that the Bishop is holding. Furthermore, you can see the water buffalo, the farmers' best friend, as the Knight and the nipa hut, the national house type, as the Rook. This set was made by Ifugao, headhunters in the past. Now they are famous for their woodcarving skills.

The 3rd set is from same origin. Note that by mistake I did put the wrong black King on the picture. In reality it is very similar to the white King! Once I will make new pictures.

  • Philippines, Luzon, by Igorot (Ifugao)
  • 1980
  • Wood K 11.7; p 10.3
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  • Philippines, Luzon, by Igorot (Ifugao)
  • 1990
  • Wood K 12.5-11.7; p 8.8

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Sri Lanka. July and August, each year in Kandy, the hill capital of Sri Lanka, the "Esala Perahera" (procession), also known as The Festival of the Tooth, takes place in the streets around the "Pattirippuwa". The latter is an octagonal pavilion and one of three main structures of the "Sri Dalada Maligawa" (Temple of the Tooth) where Lord Buddha's Tooth relic is preserved. This is Sri Lanka's biggest cultural pageant and is thought to go back to the 3rd century BC as a ritual enacted to request the gods for rainfall. Modern version, existing of several rituals and breathtaking processions with dozens of elephants, fire dancers, drummers and other musicians, lasts 11 days and ends on the night of the full moon in August. It was the inspiration for this tourist chess set.

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  • Sri Lanka
  • 1997
  • Ginikuru wood K 8.1; p 6.2
  • Box/board of rubberwood 39.7×19.9×4.9 (closed)

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Thailand. Not necessarily made there. The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary xian ("immortals") in Chinese mythology. Each immortal's power can be transferred to a power tool that can bestow life or destroy evil. This set is a replica in resin. Note that at the dark side there is a double: see picture of pawns at no. 3 and 5, while no. 3 at the light side is OK.

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  • Thailand
  • 1980
  • Resin K 9.8; p 5.7-6.0

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Vietnam. I was told that this set was Vietnamese, and Munger/III 2000 lists a Vietnamese set with similarities. But I found another, more comparable, set in Munger/III 2000 from Taiwan, so I thought it must be Taiwan. However, February 2023, an almost equal set, but now with original lacquered board signed by "Thanh Ley, Vietnam" appeared. So the set is indeed Vietnamese. I think Munger was not correct this time.

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  • Vietnam, by Thanh Ley
  • 20th century
  • Wood K 6.1; p 5.1