Posted 13 years ago
blanchette
(1 item)
Does anyone know anything about the origin of this chess set? It is made of solid brass/verdigris finish. It has a modern Picasso-esque quality to it, but also has primitive overtones of Easter Island (the pawns), as well as ancient Greece (ie. the "rooks" are corinthian columns).
hello,
this is a small hint "Cycladic". The pieces are done in the style of this ancient culture which pre- dated the Classical Greece culture.
I would guess they are a semi modern tourist item, dating from anywhere between the 1970s to the present age.
Anyway, they are very handsome, good luck.
Yes, I believe you are right! Many thanks
Actually, I think with you have may be more interesting than that. I believe these have been hand cast and finished on the island of Euboea, off and on, from the same molds, since Cycladic art caught on in the west in the 19th century. I saw a set like this on another island, and spoke to a collector about it. If you still have it, I'd get it professionally appraised.
Hi, I have struggled to find information on this set as well. I have a complete set, however the knights are shaped slightly different. Wish I could post an image here with this comment, but loving this information. Wish I could gather more also. I expect these sets are a little more valuable than meets the eye. ;-)
I published my set here in this mystery post also:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/161876-mystery-cycladic-chess-set--isle-of-eub?in=activity
Doug
Definitely Greek Cycladic:
http://www.cycladic.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=node&cnode=1&clang=1
http://www.artic.edu/aic/resources/resource/2649