Chess set - 1855 Edition 4" in a Mahogany Casket Jaques of London chess set in Mahogany casket

A faithful reproduction of our 1855 Edition 4" Chess Set in a Mahogany casket - perfect for play, and a wonderful talking point. Part of a limited run, so buy now to own a piece of chess history.

Jaques of London has been instrumental in the development and success of modern chess. Chess pieces before the mid 19th century were of two kinds - excessively elaborate and costly hand-carved reproductions of the Kings court, or rudely turned and daubed pieces in which rank was dictated by height alone. In the 1840s, this all changed. Nathaniel Cooke, proprietor of the Illustrated London News, brought John Jaques a new and elegant design for Chess Set in Box. Between the two of them, this initial design was polished to produce a set using symbols (for the king, a crown, for the bishop, a mitre) which could be easily recognised and reproduced. This radical design received rave reviews in the press, particularly for the exquisite design of the Knight, based on sculptures from the famous Elgin Marbles. Mr Howard Staunton, the first British chess World Champion, was so taken with the design that he agreed to have his name and signature adorn every box of pieces. The Staunton chess set, as it became known, is now the de facto standard for play at all levels. Few companies can say they influenced the development of a game the way Jaques of London has shaped the world's favourite board game, chess. This is our 1855 Edition 4" Chess Set in a Mahogany casket with brass furniture and a baize lining. A faithful reproduction of one of our original sets, own a piece of chess history today!

Wooden Casket: 36.5cm x 25.5cm x 16.5cm
King: Base Diameter 47mm
Rook: Base Diameter 40mm
Pawn: Base Diameter 33mm

Delivery Options 

We continue to be committed to protecting the health and safety of our colleagues and customers.

During the holiday season and additional COVID restrictions, our delivery times may be extended.   

Croquet –  Our croquet sets are made in the UK to order so they take a little bit longer to get that high quality finish you expect from Jaques. They currently have a lead time of up to 2 weeks for delivery.

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