French Antique of the day.
I guess after nine years of blogging everyday, I thought I might as well shake things up a bit. Two years ago I started Saturday Art Saves: Almost every Saturday I have featured a different artist or creative person, some I know, some who read my blog, and others simply because. A few days ago I started posting: A Postcard a Day, an old postcard from my collection (which is a nice way of saying my stash of ephemera that I am addicted to.)-- Anyway that got me thinking that this year I would like to do a weekly post on: An Antique Find of the Day, with that I will post several photos of the antique, a brief description, of the item, where I found it and maybe a link or two. I hope you will enjoy this new addition.
If you have any suggestions please let me know.
Chess Facts:
*The word "Checkmate" in Chess comes from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat," which means"the King is dead."
*The first Chessboard with alternating light and dark squares appears in Europe in 1090.
Did you know that:
*The folding chessboard was invented by a priest who was forbidden to play chess. The priest found a way around it by making a folding chessboard. When folded together and put on a bookshelf, it simply looked like two books.
I bought an incomplete set of thirty-two pieces.
The tallest piece is three inches high.
What does one do with chess pieces if they do not play chess?
Sleep with them under ones pillow as a lucky charm?
I am not a chess player, but I admire chess pieces. I have bought a few, and passed on many. Several years ago I posted some chess pieces I saw... they captured my attention because I had never seen anglo indian or Vizagapatam chess pieces before. The intricate ivory carved designs were beautiful. I asked the dealer how much and when she said, "250 Euros a piece...", from that point on I learned that these pieces are valuable, collectible and can be costly.
I found this antique chess pieces in a child's shoe box. I knew the dealer well, in fact he was one of the first antique dealers I ever met when I moved to France 28 years ago.
His price was fair, but not a giveaway. He said, "It is the price I paid so I want at least that."
I bought them in Marseille, at a street fair that happens twice a year.
Good prices. A mixture of everything good, interesting, shabby, bent, cracked and tons of boxes to dig through. A perfect fair if it isn't raining.
Hand dyed pieces in red.
When did non white chess pieces change from red to black?
Chess fact number three:
*Did you know the number of possible ways of playing the first four moves for both sides in a game of chess is 318,979,564,000?
Either did I.
For more interesting chess facts and the ones (*) mentioned check here:
http://www.chess.com/blog/keshushivang/interesting-chess-facts2
Some history and details about this style of Anglo-Indian Chess type pieces.
Rare Vizagapatam chess pieces.
Where to buy French Antiques or Brocante items Online:
Anglo Indian chess pieces a varied collection of http://www.crumiller.com/chess/chess_pages/chess_indian.htm
How to Play Chess?
Some of the finest chess pieces in the world.
Related Stories
- Back to the Brocante
- Number 8: French Christmas Postcard
- Number 7: French Christmas Postcard