Switzerland. Bears have a long and rather one-sided relationship enjoyed with Switzerland's capital Bern. According to a legend did Berthold V of Zähringen found the city in 1191 and gave it it's name after the first animal that he hunted and killed in the area. The 1923 Edition of Muirhead's Switzerland explains: whatever the real relationship of the word bear and Bern is, the figure of a bear appears on the oldest known city seal (1224), and by the city paid living bears are held in Bern since 1513 (except for a short period when French took them to Paris in 1798).
The very pretty 1st set came in a very nice box. Not a chess box of course. The 2nd set came in its original box with a label stating 1840 and centimes 16. Not sure how much that would be today.
- Switzerland, "Bears of Bern"
- 1st half 19th century
- Pear K 8.5; p 5.9
- Box 21.2×21.1×10.3
- Switzerland, "Bears of Bern"
- 1840 (box dated)
- Pear + cherry? K 9.5; p 6.8
- Box/board 31.4×31.5×5.6
Switzerland. The 3rd set listed is a modern wood cut chess set.
- Switzerland, Bern
- 1982
- Wood K 7.9; p 5.3