For the more cerebral and those that want a mental challenge, with the opportunity of some intellectual cut and thrust thrown in, there is a good Jaques, Staunton pattern, chess set (lot 243). Of course, chess is essentially a strategic war game, but hopefully without the danger of any bloodshed.
Lot 243: An early 20th century Jacques, Staunton pattern, boxwood and ebonised weighted chess set,
in a contemporaneous mahogany, partitioned box,
with a J.Jaques & Son Ltd, green paper label on the inside of the lid,
both kings stamped on the base in red 'Jaques London', one knight's ear chipped, with key, pawn 5.5cm, king 10.5cm (3)
Estimate: £500 - £700
VIEW LOT
Continuing this theme there are two collections of Britains’ ‘lead’ soldiers, post WWI and WWII in date and a 1930s model of a castle to boot (lots 247, 248 and 249).
Lot 247: A collection of post-WWI 'lead' soldiers, including 11 from the Guards regiment,
wearing red tunics and bearskins, tallest 6.5cm high, 5 from a Scottish unit, tallest 6.5cm high,10 bandsmen, playing various instruments,
5.5cm high and many in WWI battle-dress
Part of a Herefordshire Country House Estate
Estimate: £80 - £120
Lot 248: A collection of Britain's 'lead' soldiers, depicting WWII Tommies, in various poses,
some with visible 'Britain' stamped on the base,with a Britain's patent artillery, cap-gun, field gun, 19cm long,
two smaller examples, in a Britain's box, all with chipped paintwork (qty)
Estimate: £100 - £200
Lot 249: An early-mid 20th century wooden model of a castle,
with a textured surface, turrets and draw-bridge,
some damage, parts detached, 53cm high x 57cm wide x 39cm deep
Estimate: £60 - £70
The Orient is represented in lot 246, an early 20th century mah jong set; the Oriental equivalent of cards, where hands can be collected in sets or runs of threes, or for the advanced there is ‘weaving’. In this more exotic pursuit tiles are used, not cards, and walls are built before the game starts to keep malign influences at bay. This all adds to the allure of a fascinating game, which bears many similarities with western card games.
Lot 246: An early 20th century brass mounted hard-wood cased, mah-jong set,
the case with carrying handles and a sliding front enclosing 5 drawers, with bamboo-backed bone tiles and gambling sticks,
cylindrical bone 'wind' markers and small dice in a box, some tiles chipped, 24cm wide x 16.5cm deep x 19cm high;
with a mah jong linen cloth and a set of 4 tile racks, two badly chipped ends, and three odd racks (9)
Estimate: £150 - £200
Whether it is strategy, warring or gaming, there must be something to tempt you as a distraction during this challenging time. View these lots and the rest of our online catalogue via the link below.
