Description
Reproduction Thomas Lund 1820 Chessmen.
A superb reproduction of a set of tournament size 1820 Thomas Lund Old English Pattern Chessmen crafted from Boxwood and Ebony. This style of chessmen was common in the Early Victorian Period and probably dates to the 1820s. The King stands 4-1/2″ tall with a 1-1/2″ diameter base, The chessmen are heavily weighted and rest atop a cushion of green baize. The Kingside Rooks have gold-embossed black English leather base pads. The chessmen display and play best on a chessboard with 2-3/8″ or 2-1/2″ squares. The antique chessboard and Tanner Reliable Chess Timer are not included in this offering, but may be purchased elsewhere on this website. These Reproduction Thomas Lund 1820 Chessmen were executed by Frank Camaratta and are part of the Frank Camaratta Signature Series. Production is limited to 12 sets.
Original Thomas Lund 1820 ChessmenSome Background.
This design, with the distinctive ribbed baluster bodies, Maltese cross and feather finials surmounting the Kings and Queens, and the very distinctive canopied Rook, is an early 19th century design produced in the workshop of Thomas Lund located at 57 Cornhill in London. Thomas had several occupations, but one of them was the manufacture of chess sets from the early 1800’s until his death in 1843. After the death of Thomas, William took over his father’s Cornhill premises. William Lund was initially located at 23-24 Fleet Street around 1835 and appeared in the London Trade Directories starting around 1845. William Lund continued to produce chess sets throughout the 1800s.
Lund Pattern chessmen are a subset of the English Playing sets produced in England during the 19th century. The term English Playing Set is used to describe a range of chess sets in common use at that time that were designed specifically for serious play. English Playing sets also included the Saint George and Calvert patterns, among others. Aside from Thomas and William Lund, English Playing Sets were produced by John Calvert, John Jaques, George Merrifield, Fischer, Hezekiah Dixon and Charles Hastilow, among others. The popularity of these designs gradually waned after the introduction of the Staunton Pattern chessmen in September of 1849. English Playing sets were ultimately supplanted by the Staunton chessmen which were introduced to the public in September of 1849.
