Are ivory chess sets illegal?
(The short answer is that ivory is illegal today, but if you have an old antique set, it is something you can sell and can potentially be quite valuable as an antique). Ivory chess sets are, to some, the ultimate romanticized idea for a set of chess pieces.
What is the most expensive chess board?
Pearl Royale Chess Set
Yet it’s a distinct honor to present to you the most expensive chess set in the world: Made from solid 18k white gold, inset with more than 500 carats of diamonds, royal blue sapphires and South Sea Pearls, the Pearl Royale Chess Set is valued at $4,000,000.
How much is my ivory chess set worth?
In a different vein of the “when was it crafted” category, the type of ivory used can make a difference as well. A set crafted by House of Staunton from 40,000-year-old woolly mammoth ivory can be purchased for between $9,000 to $12,000.
How can you tell if something is true ivory?
Though authentic ivory is made from elephant tusks, people imitate with bone or even plastic, which can be weighted to feel like ivory. You can usually tell if the piece is a fake made of bone by observing the tunnels in the bones – authentic ivory will have no striations.
Why are chess boards so expensive?
Sheer massive size. Each piece that makes the chess set up is relatively larger in size than that of the pieces that are used in the other board games. This of course leads to the higher prices of the chess sets overall.
Where can I find an antique chess set?
If you are lucky, there might be a collectors market – for example for Franklin Mint chess items, or the before-mentioned Jacques of London Staunton chess pieces. More often then not, you will not find anything without the original box the antique chess set came in or any sort of certificate the chessmen might have come with.
Who are the best dealers for chess sets?
Tim Millard is one of the leading specialist dealers buying & selling Chess Sets & Backgammon boards with an extensive stock of antique sets ranging from fine Staunton sets by Jaques to fine European, Chinese & Indian Sets.
When was the first Staunton chess set made?
Vintage French Pattern Staunton 3.75″ Chess Set Original Image The very first pattern of the chess set was especially designed for the tournaments during the fourth decade of 19th century. History of this chess design still has a mystery that…
When did the 17th Chess Olympiad take place?
This chess set is the original reproduction of the vintage chess set used in the 17th Chess Olympiad in the city of Havanna, Cuba. The tournament was organized in the year of 1966. History of the Sovereign: The 17th Chess Olympiad The…