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I recently acquired the hand carved chess set shown in the below images. I believe it is ivory and of Chinese origin. The kings (shown in the images) are about 4 inches tall. The kings and queens are signed on the bottom. I was hoping someone could translate the signature for me and possibly provide the approximate date of creation. It does very minor nicks and is missing one of the rooks. Any comments as to age, origin, quality, artist, and value are appreciated.

2 more images.

I wonder if there is a chess board you can post a picture of it here.

I found it extremely puzzling because all these chess pieces appear to be Chinese and the two characters on the bottoms of your kings and queens are 大明 Da Ming which usually indicates that they were that of the Ming dynasty. The problem is that these are not Chinese chess pieces because there are no queens in Chinese chess. (I know because I have been playing it since I was a child) Now if these are European chess, then where are the 8 pawns (only 5 solider in Chinese chess) since the front 8 chess pieces on your chess set appeared to be different.

I also do not believe they were made of ivory, based on the quality of their carvings and the carving of the Chinese characters. The can be indeed vintage but no way that of the Ming dynasty. Since I am no expert on ivory, therefore can be wrong, may be others can shed some light on them. Super

Hi, Thanks for the reply. I think we have a misunderstanding. I did not mean that this chess set made for playing "Chinese Chess". What I intended to convey that I believed the set was manufactured in China, most assuredly for export. My guess is the early 20th century but that is just a guess on my part. I have added a picture of the board / box.
Regards,
Bill

The shreger lines on the bases seem to indicate these are ivory.

The set is obviously ivory and almost certainly Chinese, the Schreger pattern being clearly evident in two of the photos. Figural queens repeatedly appear in Chinese chess sets attributed to the 16th through 20th centuries. Pawns are often shown as individually carved figures, enhancing the value of a set.
References:
The Book of Chessmen, Alex Hammond, William Morrow & Co., 1950.
Chess, East and West, MMOA, Harry Abrams, NY, 1968.
The World of Chess, Saidy & Lessing, Random House, 1974
Chessmen, Frank Greygoose, Arco Publishing, 1979.
Chess, a Celebration of 2000 Years, Finkenzeller et al, Key Porter Books, 1989.
The photos below are from the bases of a bone set and an ivory set showing Great Ming marks, but the actual maker is not known. Regards, Jim

J Lewis and Jim Mon,
Thanks for taking the time to reply and posting the images. This does confirm what I thought about the material and origin.
Do you think my guess as to age is correct (early to mid 20th century)? Also what is the significance of the Ming mark since it seems to have appeared on chess sets for several centuries?
Regards,
Bill

It's hard to judge the age, the case does not help. I have exactly this case with a fitted Chinese puzzle ball set, and have seen several more with different sets. I think the cases were made and sold for fitting much later than the sets. I certainly can't fault your estimate of age.
I believe the base mark is intended to indicate the theme of the set, Ming, and not the maker.
On another note, you might consider having that missing rook made. Ivory would be nice, but boxwood would serve. If you aren't acquainted with some talent, there might be a carver's club in your area. Regards, Jim

Hi Jim,
What you say makes perfect sense since the set itself does look older than the board / case. I've already sent for an estimate from a local carver. Any idea what it should cost to have the piece recreated either in ivory or boxwood? I really don't have a clue. Thanks again.
Regards,
Bill

Since I had admitted that I was not an expert on ivory, therefore I stand corrected if these chess pieces were indeed made of ivory. However, I respectfully disagreed that the Queen piece could be found in a Chinese Chess Set, unless they are actually European Chess Sets that were made in China. Please show me such a Chinese chess set with a queen piece. China is a paternal society and to have a queen piece on its chess set is a little bit far fetched to me. Of course, I could be wrong.

Also, there are 8 pawns on European chess set but only five on each side of the Chinese chess set.

Hi Super,
Again my post was not meant to indicate that the chess set I own was intended to play "Chinese Chess", only that I believed it (the set)was MADE / CREATED in China. Thanks.
Regards,
Bill

Hi, Bill:

I am sorry if I did not make myself clear. You were indeed quite clear in informing us that your chess set is indeed that of a European chess, possibly being made in China, and not a Chinese chess set.

I was referring to what Jim said in his message,
"Figural queens repeatedly appear in Chinese chess sets attributed to the 16th through 20th centuries. Pawns are often shown as individually carved figures, enhancing the value of a set."

I do not know if what he called "Chinese Chess set" is actually an European chess set that was being made in China or a set of Chinese chess because to the best of my knowledge there was never a QUEEN in Chinese chess set and the number of pawns (soldiers) in a Chinese set is 5 on each side instead of 8 (in European chess set). I also did not understand what he meant by "I believe the base mark is intended to indicate the theme of the set, Ming, and not the maker." Again, when one sees the two characters 大明 Da Ming, it usually tried to hint that it was made during the Great Ming dynasty whether it was indeed true or not. Of course, once again, I can be wrong. Super

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