Chess set

Early 20th Century Travelling Chess Set c.1905–1915 – Pegged Bone & Some Replacement Pieces.

Early 20th-century English travelling chess set, dating to approximately 1905–1915, housed in an attractive wooden folding case with a pegged chessboard. The case measures approximately 20.5 × 20.5 cm and is constructed as a traditional travelling chess board, with holes in the playing squares allowing the pieces to be securely pegged in position during transport.

The chessmen comprise a mixture of natural bone, red-stained bone and later plastic replacement pieces. The majority of the larger pieces have the appearance and form of the original early 20th-century chessmen, while all of the red pawns and one white pawn are plastic replacements. The set therefore represents an interesting example of a travelling chess set that has remained together and playable despite the replacement of some of its original men.

The compact construction was particularly practical for travelling and reflects the popular portable chess sets produced in Britain around the turn of the 20th century. The wooden case and playing surface show honest signs of age and use, including scratches, marks and general wear consistent with a chess set that has been played with and transported over many years. The handle on the sliding lid appears to be a replecment.

Period: circa 1905–1915
Country: England.
Materials: wood, bone, stained bone and later plastic replacements
Case size: approximately 20.5 × 20.5 cm
Pieces: 32, forming a complete playable set
Type: pegged travelling chess set

An appealing antique chess set with an attractive sense of history, suitable for the collector of antique games, chess sets and early 20th-century travelling equipment.

Please note: several of the chessmen are later plastic replacements, as described above. The set is being sold as an antique travelling chess set with replacement pieces rather than as an entirely original bone chess set.