Gerrards Auction Rooms
Lot 50
Staunton Ivory Chess Set By J. JAQUES & SON Ltd HATTON GARDEN, London, Circa 1910 The kings stamped to the underside `JAQUES LONDON`, one rook and knight stamped from each side with a crown The king -- 4 in. (10 cm.) high; the pawn -- 1 7/8 in. (4.7 cm.) high, Mahogany fitted casket with two trays and partitions for individual ivory pieces, All Fully Lined With Label to the underside, printed `THE STAUNTON CHESSMEN ` and a facsimile of Howard Staunton`s signature . Nathaniel Cook`s design was patented in 1849 and several months later John Jaques gained the manufacturing right and started to supply retailers, such as W. Leuchars of Piccadilly. The dating of these classic chess sets has evolved into an academic art. Alan Fersht notes that ivory kings were stamped `J. Jaques London`, during the first years of production. The crown stamp on the rook is also similar to those dated 1855. The knights` heads of early sets closely followed the examples from the Parthenon frieze, much admired in the British Museum from 1832, although different horses were selected as models. Alan Fersht, Jaques Staunton Chess Set 1849-1939, published, 2007 The ubiquitous Jaques` Staunton chess men were first exalted in the Times of 9th November 1849, ``it is to be remarked that, while there is so great an accession to elegance of form, it is not attained at the expense of practical utility``. The chess champion, Howard Staunton, was recruited by Jaques as a means of marketing the sets and protecting his manufacturing right. Each box was originally issued with individually signed labels.
