Robert Belcher Antiques

Description

This exceptional and very rare Italian late 19th century Sorrento ware olive wood reversible chess board tray is the best I have ever seen.

The large tray has hinged, reversible wooden handles that swivel from one side to the other, offering a large, very fine Sorrento ware marquetry drinks tray on one side which has a large panoramic central panel with marquetry figures depicting couples celebrating and dancing together.

The fine marquetry panel is surrounded with an intricate inlaid boarder with a broad cross banded surround, which is finished with a raised and moulded edge.
When the tray is turned over and the handles reversed, the opposite side has a large inlaid chequered chessboard with a plain space to each side for opponent’s pieces taken in a tournament.

The chess set is completed with a rare early 20th century solid bronze novelty chess set which is in a form taken from Roman Italy with an emperor and empress, classical horses, standard bearers, Roman towers and foot soldiers.
The one half of this decorative chess set is patinated bronze and the other gilt bronze.
The pieces are of a good, large size and have a very tactile weight in the hand. They are in very good condition with some wear and age related patina.
In total, the solid bronze chess set weighs nearly 8kg

The chess set is of a slightly later date, Italian, circa 1930, and it works very well with the fine Sorrento ware board, which dates to circa 1880.

The size of the Sorrento ware tray:
Height 8.5cm x width 58cm x depth 45cm
The size of the Queen Chess piece:

Height 11.7cm x width 3.3cm x depth 3.3cm

Please let us know if you need any further photographs or information
We no longer have shop premises. All of our items can be viewed online.
If you wish to see an item, we will be more than happy to arrange a viewing.

Many thanks
Wendy and Robert