95 A CLUB SIZE JAQUES STAUNTON IVORY SET, c.1855-60, one side stained red, the other left natural, the unstained ivory stamped ‘JAQUES LONDON’ to the underside of the base, contained within a deep blue velvet lined Spanish mahogany casket with pink Staunton label to the under- side. The Kings 11.4cm high, pawns 5.3cm high

€ 8,000 - 10,000

Jaques Staunton Chess Sets

Jaques Staunton chess sets have been dubbed the Rolls Royce of chess sets and continue to be highly prized by collectors both for display and play.

In the mid-1800s John Jaques, an accomplished wood turner, recognised the shortcomings of the tall, elegant chess sets being produced by carvers on Fleet Street in London. Though beautiful, these pieces did not possess the wide, stable bases necessary for match play. Jaques set out to create a chess set pos- sessing both beauty and functionality that would appeal to the middle class. He redesigned each piece creating “The Staunton Pattern”, a pattern which has been the official standard for tournament play since 1924. Jaques’ use of ’s name, the unofficial World Chess Champion in 1843, served to promote the newly designed sets and to elevate their level of prestige.

Another unique quality of the Staunton sets is the documented information about dating the sets and their evolution over the long period of their production. The main indications of date being the name stamp on the kings and the trade label found in all boxes containing each set, the variations of which can be found in the two sets featured in this sale.

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