Basically, I'm trying to establish if this set is by Jaques and to date it.
Sorry to disappoint, but the set is definitely not a Jaques. Looks like a non-descript Staunton of probably French origin, possibly resold by Jaques, and most likely from the 1950s.
There's no need to apologise and nothing to disappoint. The set came in a part lot, at auction, from a house clearance. It owes me nothing.
I'm more interested in knowing why you think it's French. Is it that oversized "collar" on the bishop or something else? What are the giveaways to look for?
More the pawns than the bishops giving it away, I'd say. The pawns look rather modern - narrow base and collar with a big 'head'. Is it really as old as the 1950s? I would have thought it could easily be from 1980s or even later. The set doesn't seem to have 70 years of patina.
There was nothing in the lot older than the 1950s - that's purely anecdotal, of course, and doesn't mean this chess set isn't newer. I'm just working on some leather as I watch the GP highlights so I can't really handle the set to look for any signs of wear. I can tell you that all are weighted; that they originally had green felt on the bases, but on many pieces that green felt has aged to a yellow colour. Some of the black pieces have lightened to a very dark brown. They have a very solid feel but they're not as tactile, nor naively carved, as my St George sets.
No board. The box was a simple boxwood rectangular box, evidence of a missing sticker in the middle of the lid, a recess for a fingernail to slide the top open. It wasn't mitred in the corners, and the was no lining.
that'd be great - thanks
I'm more interested in knowing why you think it's French. Is it that oversized "collar" on the bishop or something else? What are the giveaways to look for?
2 reasons: French Staunton sets from the Jura region were the equivalent of today's mass-produced sets from Amritsar in their day. From the 50s to the 70s, most of the sets offered by resellers in the US and the UK were of French origin. Secondly, it was typical for French sets to have a queen as tall as the King (in comparison to British staunton sets, where the queen was usually shorter than the king)
I'm more interested in knowing why you think it's French. Is it that oversized "collar" on the bishop or something else? What are the giveaways to look for?
2 reasons: French Staunton sets from the Jura region were the equivalent of today's mass-produced sets from Amritsar in their day. From the 50s to the 70s, most of the sets offered by resellers in the US and the UK were of French origin. Secondly, it was typical for French sets to have a queen as tall as the King (in comparison to British staunton sets, where the queen was usually shorter than the king)
Thanks Frank - just the sort of information I was looking for.
I'm more interested in knowing why you think it's French. Is it that oversized "collar" on the bishop or something else? What are the giveaways to look for?
2 reasons: French Staunton sets from the Jura region were the equivalent of today's mass-produced sets from Amritsar in their day. From the 50s to the 70s, most of the sets offered by resellers in the US and the UK were of French origin. Secondly, it was typical for French sets to have a queen as tall as the King (in comparison to British staunton sets, where the queen was usually shorter than the king)
Same height? I can't think of a single french staunton set I have where the K & Q are approximately the same height.
That to me isn't the same height. The king's finial is significantly higher than the queen's.
No, clearly the king is taller than the queen, but on Staunton sets the difference in height is much more marked.
Same height? I can't think of a single french staunton set I have where the K & Q are approximately the same height.
not counting the finial, of course.
Hello all,
I'm new to the site. I hate to come to a new site begging for help but that's what I find myself doing. I'm an engineer by training but I'm also an antiques collector (who am I kidding? I collect in more fields than I care to count). My collecting has lead to me becoming a well practiced conservator and restorer. Over the last 12 months, I have restored two 19th century St George chess sets. The last one I bought came in a mixed box of treen and other items and it was very poorly, all four knights were in bits and some pieces had been painted where the original ebonising had worn away. It's taken weeks of evenings to carefully strip, sand, re-drill and ebonise. I'm still working on colour matching the two black knights, but the set is starting to look good.
That's not what I need help with, though. With that last St. George set there was also a Staunton set. The Staunton set came in a simple boxwood case. Although there was no name on the box (or the pieces), there was a mark where a sticker used to be ... and I am quite sure it matches up with the Jaques boxes I've seen in the past. However, I can't be sure. The knights seem a good match to the Jaques sets from the late 1920s but the bishops don't really fit well with the images I can find online. Basically, I'm trying to establish if this set is by Jaques and to date it.
Images are below and I would appreciate any input from those who've had more hands on experience with these chess sets than I have. Thanks in advance.