German Barleycorn Chess Set, late 19th century
German Barleycorn Chess Set, late 19th century
Some time ago I was lucky enough to buy this beautiful chess set in a German auction. It came in a compartmented and felted black wooden case. It is a set reminiscent of the Barleycorn style, especially the German interpretations of this style. The set is very large overall with a king size of about 13.3 cm / 5.25". The pieces are turned from wood, one side lacquered light brown, the other side dark brown. The special feature of the pieces are the finials, each of which is made of bone and is reminiscent in style of English barleycorn sets. The kings have a small crown that tapers upwards and ends in a small sphere. The ladies have a larger spherical finial. The bishops have the usual mitre with incisions. The horse heads of the knights have a mane carved out of bone. And the rooks have a teardrop-shaped finial.
A set quite similar in style can be purchased from the Russian chess set maker Kadun under the name Barleycorn Chess. However, the pieces are turned entirely from wood and are not as finely crafted. It is therefore quite possible that the set shown here is an original of the one that served as a model for Kadun. I would date the set to the end of the 19th century.
A set quite similar in style can be purchased from the Russian chess set maker Kadun under the name Barleycorn Chess. However, the pieces are turned entirely from wood and are not as finely crafted. It is therefore quite possible that the set shown here is an original of the one that served as a model for Kadun. I would date the set to the end of the 19th century.
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