NIGRI Vintage SEVEN LUCKY GODS Italy Japan Carved RESIN CHESS SET STONE board

Description: This is an absolutely beautiful and extremely rare vintage chess set and board from the world renowned Nigri, located in Lucca, Italy. It has all the qualities to be the centerpiece of any collection, or to be your primary set. It's both gorgeous and handsome, the lore behind each piece deep and interesting. The set and board weigh in at about 20lb, will be packaged very securely and go by air. This description will be long because I take my sets seriously and really try to make sure you know what you are buying. It's my goal to connect wonderful sets like this with the right person. Please note that I have done a large amount of research on this set and can tell you my findings, but ultimately this set is rare enough that I cannot confirm specific details, only recount what I have read, mostly about other Nigri sets. -The Kings are labeled "Nigri Made In Italy, Brush Painting" in English, alongside some Italian (see photos). They appear to be hand carved and hand brush painted. -Research suggests they are either made of Almar or "oxo-teak", a material made from crushed alabaster and resin. They do feel like resin pieces so oxo-teak seems likely. I can only confirm these are vintage Nigri, beyond that it's difficult. I will give a lot more background later in this description, but first: Condition - overall it's in great vintage condition. A few pieces have very minor chips, I did my best to get a closeup. The only piece with serious damage I saw is a white knight, with a broken sword. Thankfully even this chip isn't particularly serious, though is certainly of note. The black king has a tiny chip on the rear of his crown and a miniscule chip at his waist. There may be a couple other minor chips I did not detail or photograph but nothing major and nothing intentional. I did my best to give you a sense of the set and how wonderful it is. If you prefer, the small chips could be easily hidden with a bit of the right polish or ink, but I do not like modifying vintage sets and prefer to sell them as is. For me, the age is part of the charm. eBay will not let me take any more pics, but please examine the pictures I did post as the ultimate guide to the condition of the set. The set was quite dusty and I lightly cleaned them, but and then I noticed I missed a little bit here and there when I was taking photos. If you see dust, be assured they do clean up easily and well. The king is 4" tall and weighs 3.9 ounces. Both kings have the maker noted. The squares on the board are 1 7/8". The board, including it's border, is just under 17" x 17". It weighs 15 lbs 3 oz by itself! It is absolutely beautiful. There are some minor chips along the edge. There are two minor crack lines (see one of the white squares) but these are not structural at all, and quite possibly there from the get-go, since it is a natural material. It's a solid, solid board. Each pawn on a side has eight different sculptures, with a name on the back. I have determined these names are those of the Seven Lucky Gods. Please see photos, you'll see: (Text sourced from wikipedia) Ebis is Ebisu (pawn with fish): From the period of the gods Izanami and Izanagi, Ebisu (恵比寿) is the only one whose origins are purely Japanese. He is the god of prosperity and wealth in business, and of plenitude and abundance in crops, cereals and food in general. He is the patron of fishermen... Bis (armored): Bishamonten's (毘沙門天) origins can be traced back to Hinduism, but he has been adopted into Japanese culture. He comes from the Hindu god Kubera and is also known by the name "Vaisravana". He is the god of fortune in war and battles, also associated with authority and dignity. Benz (female musician): Benzaiten's (弁才天 or 弁財天) origin is found in Hinduism, as she comes from the Hindu goddess Saraswati. She is the only female Fukujin in the modern grouping... When she was adapted from Buddhism, she was given the attributes of financial fortune, talent, beauty and music among others. Juro (staff, heron in front): Considered the incarnation of the southern pole star (南極星 "nankyokusei"), Juroujin (寿老人) is the god of the elderly and of longevity in Japanese Buddhist mythology. It is said that the legendary Juroujin is based on a real person who lived in ancient times Hot (2 different pawns are labeled Hot, both may fit the following description): Hotei (布袋) is the god of fortune, guardian of children, patron of diviners and barmen, and also the god of popularity. He is depicted as a fat, smiling, bald man with a curly moustache. He always appears half-naked, as his clothes are not wide enough to cover his enormous belly. Fuk (old man, deer): The god Fukurokuju (福禄寿) also has his origins in China. It is believed that he used to be a hermit during the Chinese Song dynasty, distinguished for being a reincarnation of the Taoist god Hsuan-wu. He is the god of wisdom, luck, longevity, wealth and happiness. There is also another elderly pawn, marked with what appears to be a Japanese symbol, with a cat. There are some variations of the 7 Lucky Gods so I am unable to identify. The two Hot may represent the same god or a second I am aware of (the upwards looking jolly face of one of the Hot pawns is a high point in a set full of high points). We regularly sell other chess boards and related items - backgammon, poker, gambling, barware, and more. I'm a collector and a seller, and if you've made it this far, then thanks. This set is very special, very rare, and I hope it finds the right home.

Price: 349.99 USD

Location: Damascus, Oregon

End Time: 2024-12-24T22:07:18.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD