Lot #1055. East Indian John Company Vizagapatam Chess Compendium

Description East Indian John Company Vizagapatam Chess Compendium. Offered here is a magnificent and complete antique ivory and horn chess set presented as a full game compendium in the classic John Company Vizagapatam style. The chessmen, draughtsmen, chessboard and three nested storage cases are in excellent condition. Circa 1820 – 1840.  These highly prized Anglo-Indian games compendia were produced in the mid-19th century in the workshops of Vizagapatam (Visakhapatnam) under the patronage and commercial network of the British East India Company—known affectionately to collectors as “John Company.” The King in the John Company Vizagapatam Chess set stands a full 4 inches tall with a -3/4″ diameter base. Fashioned from natural ivory for the white pieces and rich dark horn for the black, these finely turned chessmen exhibit the classic, elegant proportions and ornate detailing characteristic of the finest 19th-century export work from this renowned Indian center of ivory and horn craftsmanship. This impressive ensemble includes the folding chessboard (which doubles as the outer case), framed with intricate black incised and inlaid borders featuring classical architectural motifs, figures, animals, scrolling foliage, and geometric designs. When opened, one side reveals the standard chessboard while the interior displays a handsome Sandalwood backgammon board with traditional points. Accompanying the set are three matching fitted boxes—all sharing the same exquisite decorative penwork and each with its own keyhole. Included is a complete set of ivory and horn checkers (draughts), two turned dice shakers (cups), and a pair of dice. The rich sandalwood interiors of the chessboard and Backgammon Checkers boxes provide a warm, aromatic contrast to the striking black-and-white exterior decoration and offer perfect protection and display for the chessmen, checkers, and accessories. Every component of this Jogn Company Vizagapatam Chess Compendium is original to the set and in excellent condition, showing only the light, honest patina of careful use and age. The three nested boxes stack neatly for compact storage while presenting a spectacular display when arranged together. A rare and highly decorative example of fine Anglo-Indian games craftsmanship, this complete John Company Vizagapatam ivory and horn chess, checkers, and backgammon compendium—with its distinctive sandalwood-lined boxes—is ideal for the serious collector or as a stunning centerpiece for any library, study, or games room. Some History. The East India Company was established in Vizagapatam around 1670. In the early 18th Century, a furniture manufacturing industry developed in the region. Specialties included inlay, carving and turning work with ivory, Sandalwood, rosewood and Tortoise shell. By the early 19th century, Buffalo and Elk horn were added to the artisan materials. By the beginning of the 19th century, elaborately carved and turned ivory chess sets such as this on, were being produced for sale on the very lucrative European market. Visakhapatnam (or, phonetically, Vizagapatam) is the largest city, both in terms of area and population in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is nestled between the Eastern Ghats Mountain range and the Bay of Bengal and is often known as The Jewel of the East Coast, The City of Destiny and the Goa of the East Coast. Visakhapatnam’s history stretches back to the 6th century BC. Archaeological records suggest that the present city was built around the 11th and 12th centuries. Conquered by the Mughals in the 16th century, European powers eventually set up trading interests in the city, and by the end of the 18th century it had come under French rule. Control passed to the British in 1804, and it remained under British colonial rule until India’s independence in 1947.