by Mascott
Made in England
Historical Notes Included
King Height: 6.5" (165 mm)
Chess Pieces: Heavy weighted plain theme chess pieces in crushed marble and resin complete with felted underlay
Chess Board Not Included: We are delighted to offer a choice for you of two highly recommended quality chess boards with sufficiently large squares to accomodate the proportions of these chess pieces.
In our Chess Boards section at CheckmateChessSets simply choose from the following options:
An astonishingly detailed and sumptuous theme chess set on a quite magnificent scale. Remember, the King theme chess piece is 6.5" high!
Specially commissioned from the English artist George Pitman-Hooker, this outstanding theme chess set depicts some of the most influential characters in the birth of the nation. Extensive research was carried out on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure the finest degree of accuracy possible both in relation to dress and portrait likenesses.
The American Side
The king is General George Washington. Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and the first President of USA, he is depicted wearing the uniform preserved in the Smithsonian Institution. The Queen is the seamstress Betsy Ross, depicted holding the first flag of the United States of America. She is credited with making it in 1776, having been commissioned to do so by General George Washington himself.
The Bishops are represented by Benjamin Franklin (shown on the left in the image below) and Thomas Jefferson (shown on the right in the image below). Benjamin Franklin, historian, scientist and philosopher, is credited with engaging French military aid in the war. Thomas Jefferson, third president of USA, has been modelled holding in his left hand the Declaration of Independence, of which he was the chief architect.
The Knights are represented by General, the Marquis de LaFayette (shown on the left in the image below) depicted commanding American Forces at the early age of 19 and Benedict Arnold (shown on the right in the image below). In fact, Benedict Arnold is also featured as a knight on the British side in our theme chess set because of his defection from the American to the British side in September 1780. He is depicted wearing a cloak to symbolise his deceipt and his horse is modelled so as to be shown trampling the flag of the Continental Army.
The Castle is represented by the Independence Hall, Philadelphia, the venue of the Constitutional Convention which was held between May and September in 1787.
The Pawn is represented by a Private in the Third New Jersey Regiment or 'Jersey Blues'.
The British Side
The King is, of course, depicted by George III shown here in his full robes of state. Although very astute, it was his inflexibility which ultimately led to the revolution.
The Queen Is Charlotte, wife of George III. Your theme chess piece is based on the portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence which is displayed in the National Gallery, London.
The Bishops are represented by Frederick Lord North (shown on the right in the image below) and General Sir William Howe (shown on the left in the image below). The former was George III's Prime Minister and the latter Commander in Chief of the British Army.
The Knights are depicted as General Charles, Earl Cornwallis (shown on the right in the image below) and Benedict Arnold. In fact, Benedict Arnold is also featured as a knight on the American side in your theme chess set because of his defection from the American to the British side in September 1780. He is depicted wearing a cloak to symbolise his deceipt and his horse is modelled so as to be shown trampling the flag of the Continental Army. General Charles, Earl Cornwallis was commander of the British forces in the Southern part of America when they surrendered to the American and French forces at Yorktown in October 1781, a major victory in the fight for independence.
Such has been the attention to detail in the creation of your American War of Independence Plain Them Chess Set that General Charles, Earl Cornwallis is even shown displaying a single epaulette on his right shoulder indicating his rank of Lieutenant General!
Marvel at the quite exquisite detail in the bases of the Knights...
The Castle is the Tower of London built by William the Conqueror starting in 1078. Variously used as a palace, royal arsenal, prison and fortress during its long history, the Tower remains technically a royal residence to this day although the last monarch actually to use it as such was Henry VIII.
The Pawn is represented by a Private in the Grenadier Company of the Coldstream Guards.
Chess Board Not Included: We are delighted to offer a choice for you of two highly recommended quality chess boards with sufficiently large squares to accomodate the proportions of these chess pieces.
In our Chess Boards section at CheckmateChessSets simply choose from the following options:
