Description
Old English Bone Travel Chess Set.
A small, early Old English Bone Travel Chess Set. The bone pegged chessmen are natural and red-stained. The accompanying folding box/chessboard is Mahogany with 5/8″ Rosewood and Satinwood squares, measuring 6″ square and 1-1/2″ thick when folded, with a removable bar that mounts into the chessboard to prevent the chessmen from falling out when the pieces are stored, and the board/box is folded. The King stands 1-1/4″ tall. The set is complete and in excellent condition. Circa 1880 vintage
The Old English pattern is a very playable design which has survived well into thew 20th Century. They are available in a multitude of sizes, qualities and materials, including several wood species, bone, ivory, stone, Bakelite and even metal. During the Victorian period, Old English portable Chess Sets were produced by almost all the known manufacturers, including Jaques of London, F. A. Ayers, William and Thomas Lund, George Merrifield and Dixon, among others.
The Old English pattern chessmen are a subset of the ubiquitous English Playing Sets.