1.Supplements

16# Mexican Chessmen, Hand Carved from Bone, 1968

White side natural Bone, Dark side Black painted. Special Pawns with Cross or Knife in his fist.

In the 19th and 20th century Mexican artisans thought these pieces were of Spanish origin, and they paid tribute by reproducing the design. Mexican sets are quite interesting. There are three main influences. The first are 'Spanish' Pulpit sets. The second influence is French, from the very brief French occupation of Mexico 1864-1867. Native-American Mexican symbols are the third major influence on Mexican sets from this time

17# Chinese ceramic figures Set

Painted very nice and glaced, mid 20th century

Special thanks to Lothar Kuhne, Germany

Hans Fahrni, 1.October 1874 – 28.May 1939

Hans Fahrni 1874-1939

First professional Chess player of Switzerland

View Biography: http://spiez.net/pdf/fahrni.pdf

18# Tipical British Bone travel-Set

Figures amalgamation of Regence and St.George Style with folding wooden Board, 1860

19# Fine carved figurines made of precious Wood

Very beautifully processed with strong, mystic expression, mid 20th century

Special thanks to Mr.Fredy Hurni, Switzerland

Mr. Wittike`s fantastic idea

Sofonisba Anguissola "Three Sisters Playing Chess" 1555

Andreas Wittike writes on his Homepage:

http://www.wittitscheks-schachfiguren.de/

"For many years I have known and loved the painting of the Italian renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola (1532- 1625)
Entitled "Three Sisters Playing Chess" Painted by her in 1555.
The original painting can be seen in the National Museum In Poznan (Poland).
The chessmen in that painting have captured my heart, I am completely under their spell. Of course I know full well that it is not possible to own this set and it is probable that they no longer exist outside of this painting So I decided to have this set re-created, a major project. Including the skills of Alan Dewey the turner, a good friend of mine, and also the skills of Mr. Paul Becker, who carved the blanks Alan supplied. I thank them both very much."

......... really a wonderful idea and an excellent article!

Reproduction chess piece bright side ( Owner Andreas Wittike )

Reproduction chess piece dark side ( Owner Andreas Wittike )

20# Mexican Wood and Ox Bone "Pulpit" Set, beautifully hand decorated, 1953

Antique Pulpit style sets are usually attributed to Spain, but, as Gareth Williams points out, there is no reason to believe they come from Spain. They have also been attributed to Napoleonic prisoners of war. No one really knows where antique Pulpit sets come from. Williams guesses all of these sets were made between 1770 and 1830.
Late 19th and early 20th century Mexican artisans thought these pieces were of Spanish origin, and they paid tribute by reproducing the design. Mexican sets are quite interesting. There are three main influences. The first are these 'Spanish' Pulpit sets. The second influence is French, from the very brief French occupation of Mexico 1864-1867. Native-American Mexican symbols are the third major influence on Mexican sets from this time.
The Kings,Queens and Bishops little faces are beautifully hand decorated, rare and interresting Chess Set

Inscription on inside Board: "MEXICO - 1953 - TO ELISA - X MAS 1976"

21# German Cow Bone Set " Biedermeier "

Standard figures mid 19th century

" The Turk "

The Mechanical Turk or Automaton Chess Player

The Turk was designed by Hungarian engineer and inventor Baron Wolfgang von Kempelen in 1769. It was billed as a "chess playing automaton" capable of beating even the strongest challengers. During a performance, the showman would open two cabinets to display a large empty space, and then a third cabinet to display an area of tightly packed machinery, presumably the "brains" of the contraption. The secret of this hoax was that a normal sized man could recline within the machine, and remain unseen by the audience by repositioning himself during the initial display of the device's interior.

The position of the chess player in the Turk

Its first performance was for the Habsburg Court in Vienna in 1770. It was exhibited thereafter although somewhat intermittently for the next 84 years.

After von Kempelen's death in 1804, the Turk was purchased by Bavarian showman Johann Nepomuk Maelzel. In 1809 during the Wagram campaign Napoleon Bonaparte played against it in Vienna. For a period it was in the private collection of Prince Eugene de Beauharnais but Maelzel acquired it again in 1817.

Turk "Ajeeb" publicity at Eden Museum New York

Further exhibitions followed but in 1837 both Maelzel and the Turks operator, Schlumberger (who was the tutor of Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint Amant) died from Yellow fever while returning to the USA from Havana. The Turk ended its days in the Chinese Museum in Philadelphia where it was destroyed by a fire in 1854.

"In the Face of the Turk"

Heinz Nixdorf Museum Paderborn, Germany

The " Turk " closed

Heinz Nixdorf Museum Paderborn, Germany

The " Turk " open

Heinz Nixdorf Museum Paderborn, Germany

22# Another type of Mexican Bone and Wood "Pulpit" Chess, mid 20th century

Set with an intricate amount of different components. Set is contained in a folding Box of solid quality

23# English "Barleycorn" Style ivory Set

Early 19th century, carved from ivory with a very nice Patina, 1810 - 1830

24# Rare & nice Austrian "Pillars" Design Chess Pieces

Made of Bakelite, 1925

Bakelite, the First Real Plastic

Bakelite or polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, is an early plastic. It is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, formed from an elimination reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. It was developed by Belgian-born chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland in New York in 1907.One of the first plastics made from synthetic components, Bakelite was used for its electrical nonconductivity and heat-resistant properties in electrical insulators, radio and telephone casings, and such diverse products as kitchenware, jewelry, pipe stems, chess figures and children's toys. Bakelite was designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark in 1993 by the American Chemical Society in recognition of its significance as the world's first synthetic plastic. The "retro" appeal of old Bakelite products has made them collectible.

25# Old Russian travel Chess Set

Hand made of wood with cloth bag for transport, Board inside with cyrillic marking, 1950

Board open 31cm x 31cm x 2,5cm, with white cloth bag for transport

26# Intensively played German travel Chess Game of Wood, around 1925

"Schachspieler" von A.P.Weber 1893-1980

Deutscher Lithograf, Zeichner und Maler

http://www.weber-museum.de/werk/schach/

Das Motiv der Schachspieler hat Weber über einen langen Zeitraum hinweg immer wieder aufgegriffen und zu einem "Schachspiel der Weltgeschichte" (G. Nicolin) ständig neu variiert. Schach - das ist Spiel, aber auch Kampf; ein Messen der geistigen Kräfte, das geeignet ist, dialektische Gegensätze anschaulich zu machen. Dem Künstler bietet sich die Möglichkeit, die verschiedensten Typen und Charaktere darzustellen.

So setzte Weber phantasievoll, mit intensivem physiognomischem Studium und feinem psychologischem Gespür für die betreffende Situation zahlreiche Partien ins Bild: Maria Theresia und der Alte Fritz spielen um territorialen Besitz: Das Blatt bezieht sich entweder auf den Verlust Schlesiens oder auf die erste Teilung Polens (1772), bei der Galizien an Österreich fiel. Friedrich der Große äußerte sich über die unzufriedene Kaiserin: "Sie weinte, aber sie nahm." Napoleon spielt gegen den russischen Winter, dem er seine entscheidende Niederlage im Rußland-Feldzug 1812 verdankte. Kaiser Wilhelm II. sitzt den damals noch von ihm als suspekt angesehenen Sozialdemokraten gegenüber, die er als "vaterlandslose Gesellen" bezeichnete.
Zu historischen Paarungen treten literarische (Don Quijote und Sancho Pansa), satirische und allegorische.
Die Idee zu einem Zyklus von Schachspielern kam Weber während seiner Gefangenschaft unter den Nationalsozialisten 1937 im Nürnberger Gefängnis. Eine Zeichnung, die Fuchs und Narr beim Spiel zeigt und die Weber auf den 7.12. 1937 datierte, versah er mit dem Arbeitstitel der Folge: "Komm - wir spielen ein Partiechen". Die meisten der damals entstandenen Federzeichnungen hat Weber später lithographiert, wobei die Blätter - für den Künstler ungewöhnlich - häufig koloriert wurden.

Wilhelm II. und die vaterlandslosen Gesellen

27# An interesting tribal figure Chess Set from Madagascar, 1978

Hand carved with many details, the Set is made from a light Wood similar Boxwood, the Black Side made from natural dark Wood.

The Pawns representing a Tribe, King and Queen as missionaries.

J.H.Blackburne

Born in Manchester 1843. Chess Champion of Great Britain and Berlin. Played as many as 15 games simultaneously.

Painted by L.Ward, 1888

28# Nice Russian Chess pieces with marble effect, made from synthetic substance, 1971

Highly visual set, whose swirling colours emulate the appearances of Murano glass - some optimists try to pass these sets as authentic amber! Developed by the Moscow Plastics Association in 1971