Chess set for the English market. India, late 18th century.

Chess set for the English market. India, late 18th century.
Pieces of red lacquer and carved bone.
Wooden board.
Measurements: 11,6 x 5,5 cm (the pieces); 40 x 40 cm (the board).

Chess set with bone and lacquer pieces that boast a laborious work of carving and filigree, made in India in a period when the Asian country was under the control of the British East India Company, which promoted a cultural and commercial exchange between the two countries. Beyond functionality, these boards were considered luxury objects whose decorative pieces reflected one by one the sophisticated taste of the English aristocracy. They were acquired by the British upper class as a status symbol, reflecting both their purchasing power and their interest in the exoticism of the colonies. The arabesques, crests, and floral motifs, which are virtuously resolved in each of the figures, are characteristic of local craftsmanship. Ebonized wood and fruit wood have been used for the board to design the alternating squares. As for the figures, the white of the bone contrasts with the red of the opponent's lacquer.

It should be added that chess itself has deep roots in India, historically known as "chaturanga". However, the boards designed for the English market adopted the European rules and formats of chess, although they kept the ornamental details typical of India.