Jaques "Northern Upright" Ivory Chess Set, ca. 1850-1880

Jaques "Northern Upright" Ivory Chess Set, ca. 1850-1880

English chess set in the "Northern Upright" pattern. The pieces are turned and carved from ivory, one side natural, the opposing side stained red. All pieces on elongated stems with sloping bases. The Kings with urn-shaped finials, the Queens with ball finials, both with drop shaped tops, the Knights as carved horses' heads, the Bishops with split mitres, the Rooks with six crenellations, the Pawns with ball finials. King size is 3.6".

The design is attributed to Lord John Hay of the Edinburgh Chess Club (hence the name "Edinburgh Upright" or "Northern Upright"), who allegedly invented the design in around 1830-1840, thus preceding the Staunton design.

The pieces are most likely made by Jaques of London, who apparently continued to produce Northern Upright sets even after the introduction of the Staunton design. Even though there are only fragments of three pieces and a pawn remaining of the original Jaques pattern book, the shape of the pieces is identical to No. 12 in the pattern book. In Jaques and British Chess Company Chess Sets, Alan Fersht is showing a similar, but slightly taller set (4.2") from the Jon Crumiller collection together with a collage between the set and the pattern book, proving that the set is scaling perfectly with the pattern.
Share by: