John Jay Research - Chess Forums

Brettvanburen

Jul 25, 2018

0

#1

Hoping you can help me in my current research (or point me to someone who can)!

I’m at the John Jay Homestead in Katonah, NY, and we have in our collection what we believe to be John Jay’s personal chess set from sometime near the turn of the 18th century. The set, I believe, is a 1830s Ivory Burmese Set but on a much earlier board made of mahogany and pine with Ivory inlays. I believe the board was produced in the 1790s in England but was given newer pieces after John Jay’s death.

I’m hoping you can give me some clues or confirm some of this with the pictures I’ve attached.

Thank you!

-Brett VanBuren

Brettvanburen

Jul 25, 2018

0

#2

Brettvanburen

Jul 25, 2018

0

#3

madratter7

Jul 25, 2018

0

#4

I would try the chess books and equipment forum.

madratter7

Jul 25, 2018

0

#5

Looks like it got moved.

FrankHelwig

Aug 14, 2018

0

#6

I don't know much about non-Staunton sets. The chess museum calls the type you showed Cantonese "Burma" style. See here (look for Canton Bones):

http://www.chess-museum.com/bone--ivory--horn.html

Jon Crumiller has sets like that in his collection as well. You can find examples here:

http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/chess_asian.htm

According to him, these were actually carved in China, not Burma (matches what Nic Lanier says at the Chess Museum). Here are 2 examples:

http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/asian/Small_Burmese_ivory.htm

http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/asian/BurmeseIvorySet.htm

althus

Aug 17, 2018

0

#7

+1 about Jon Crumiller. I'd advise the OP to contact Jon directly (there is a link on his site), as he is super friendly and willing to share his knowledge. OP might come away with a lot more information than he'd expected.