| Description: | Rare "Bears of Berne" chess set circa late 1800s. Detailed, beautiful and exceptional wood carvings of bears made in Bern, Switzerland. Kings wearing crowns and holding scepters; Queens wearing crowns and holding baby bears; Bishops as runners with strapped mail pouches; Knights as baby bears riding "mama" bear; Rooks as bears guards with clubs-rifles on turrets; Pawns with clubs-rifles. All mounted on wooden pedestals. All made in great proportions and of two types of wood in a two-tone style where the dark-wood pieces holding light-wood and the light-wood pieces holding dark-wood fixtures. Excellent condition. Some tiny nicks and repairs commensurate with age. 2021.
Reference: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/17975/lot/160/ |
