Wedgwood Chess - Antique Chess - Chess pieces - Jasperware - Old Chess Pieces and sets

Old Minton Chess Set – My Latest Purchase

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:19:38 +0000

A 19th century Minton Parian Chess Set in white an lapis lazuli blue, modelled by John Bell (1812-1895) The pieces are cherubs . This chess set design was originally exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The date markings show the 1851 as the manufacturing date.

I recently purchased this at auction on the 10th September 2011 and I am looking to complete a similar set in green.

If you can help pleas contact me at aeraynes@aol.com.

Wedgwood are no longer making any more of the Chess sets

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:29:56 +0000

I have since found out that Wedgwood are no longer making any more of the Chess sets or even single pieces. even for me.

As they are getting very scarce now, I will have to rethink about selling any, but I could be tempted into swapping them for old Chess Pieces made by Major British Pottery Manufacturers or very rare others.

Sage Green Stoneware – Chess sets/ pieces

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:29:03 +0000

I have paid just 2 weeks ago £1000 for a fantastic King made in 1784 or 1785 in Sage Green Stoneware and I am keeping on looking for more pieces to complete the set.

I am looking for Minton Chess Pieces to complete 2 chess sets

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:27:56 +0000

I am looking for Minton Chess Pieces to complete 2 chess sets. They are like small Children or Cherubs. I need 8 Pawns in Green also I am looking for 2 Bishops, 1 Queen and 1 King in Pink. People in the Stoke on Trent area who used to work at the Minton Factory might have some put away in the loft or know someone who might be able to help. These were made in the 1950′s.
I also want to aquire some very early pieces made in Parian and much more detailed than the 1950′s China Pieces.

Any odd pieces or full sets would be appreciated.

I am a Collector not a Shop.

Pink Minton Bishop King and Queen Required

admin — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:08:04 +0000

I have just bought a Pink Minton Bishop from somone in Stoke on Trent, from my advert in the Sentinal Newspaper and I am still short of 1 Pink Bishop + a King and a Queen in Pink.

Wedgwood Chess Set

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:48:43 +0000

These fine Wedgwood Jasperware Chess Sets designed by John Flaxman in 1783.
Were based on characters from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. (See History)

Wedgwood first produced this mould in the late 18th Century, and last brought these
moulds out in the 1960′s. Here at Wedgwood Chess we have been able to bring these
moulds out again for you.

Each piece is stamped “Made in England Wedgwood”. With the initials of the moulder
on the base.

DO YOU HAVE OLD CHESS PIECES TO SELL OR THAT NEED APPRAISING?

admin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:04:28 +0000

I will offer up to £500 per piece for Old Pottery Chess Pieces in ‘Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Minton, Castleford, Staffordshire, Martin Bros, Swinton. etc. They must be very old , I will also buy full sets. Please email me on aeraynes@aol.com or ring 07702-313333 and send me a photo.

Wedgwood Chessmen Designed by John Flaxman in 1783 – A History

admin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:55:48 +0000

Flaxman’s chessmen could not accurately be described as ‘figures’, though they are collected now more for their decorative qualities than for play. His bill dated 30th October 1783 charges £1.5.0 for ‘A figure of a fool for chess, probably a model in wax, and three guineas is charged on the same bill, but dated more than a year later, for ‘Three days employed in drawing bas relief vases, Chessmen etc’. On 5th February 1784 Flaxman wrote to Josiah: ‘I return you many thanks, for the liberal praise you bestow on my chess figures’. As the oven books for 1783 shows, they were already in production in December, and in 1785 Flaxman produced a remarkable trompe l’oeil drawing in pen and wash, showing the eighteen different pieces arranged on two shelves. This drawing, for which he charged six guineas, may have been intended for use in the Greek Street Showrooms, but there is also the possibility that, although not sold until 1785, it was originally executed in 1783 to give Joshua a clear idea of the proposed designs, It would have been invoiced later, when Josiah decided to keep it.

Chessmen were made in solid colours, and in white jasper with blue, green or lilac dip bases. According to Barnard, as many as 130 sets were sold between. 1785 and 1795. Their design is a remarkable example of eighteenth century Gothick, seldom seen in ceramics.

There have been many articles written by Wedgwood Specialists, who are and were far more knowledgable than me. Including one of the best, Robert J. Reichner who wrote in great detail many years ago and Henry Buton of The Buton Museum of Wedgwood and many others.

There were many theories and stories written about, Identification of Wedgwood Chess Pieces.

The major one being, ‘that if it does not say WEDGWOOD on the base or back of the piece, then it is NOT WEDGWOOD. (Except in the case of some of the earliest pieces)
There are also ways to approximately date the pieces and they were made in different clays and stone etc, which usually cured at different speeds and ended up as different sizes.