Ivory, 1853.

These chessmen, whose professional manufacture in March of 1853 can be established from an inscription on the bottom, are made of ivory. The pieces are largely machine-carved, with all but the knight taking perfectly circular forms. The use of threading on the ivory itself allows for the carefully-carved knights to be placed on their circular bases. These chessmens’ familiar designs are consistent with Staunton and other practical styles from the period of their production.

Chessmen (32). Holding Institution: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Image courtesy of the The Metropolitan Museum of Art. CC0 1.0.

Chessmen (32). 1853. Ivory. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/201549