Christie's Allen Hofrichter Collection of Chess Sets

WHY COLLECT AUCTION CATALOGS? 

Auction catalogs are valuable - and affordable - reference tools for collectors. They give us the expertise of the world's leading specialists; they show hundreds, if not thousands, of items, often with spectacular photos; they can give a general overview or a very detailed look at different areas of collecting (and sometimes of collectors as well).
    Most catalogs have estimates of what the item was expected to bring at auction printed along with the item description; many of them also have the final sale results.
    For those areas of collecting which aren't too well-documented, or where the reference books can cost almost as much as one of the items being collected, auction catalogs are especially valuable; for any area of collecting, well-documented or not, they're always helpful identification aids.

"Whatever the source of the one hundred and thirty five sets offered in this sale, it will be evident to those lucky enough to view it, and participate in the auction, that Hofrichter had a very special discerning talent. The quality and breadth of the collection will take the breath away of the specialist, connoisseur, enthusiast or those that are just plain curious alike."

The chess sets in this sale catalog are evenly split between the 19th and 20th centuries (with one Turkish set possibly dating from 1700); they come from all regions of the world and in all types of materials and styles. Some of the more unusual ones:

• Italian lava and coral bust type, possibly circa 1800
• Meissen porcelain polychrome and gilt sea-life set (mid-20th century), with starfish pawns
• Russian porcelain propaganda figural set, with the theme being Capitalists vs. Communists
• a beautiful, delicate German ivory figural set with the pieces carved as classical Greek and mythical figures (circa 1890)
• American glass scent bottle set (mid-20th century)
• African composite figural set, with the pieces composed of electric cable and other materials (late 20th century)
• pottery mouse set after a design by George Tinworth (early 20th century).

There are also, of course, many traditional sets (John Company, Vizigapatnam, Staunton, figurals, et al) in traditional and non-traditional materials.

Here are the top sellers from the auction (the prices are in sterling):

Each lot is pictured in color; the lot descriptions include the following information:
    • Country of origin
    • Material and style
    • Approximate date of manufacture
    • Description of the pieces
    • Height of tallest and shortest pieces

Some of the descriptions also include bibliographic references, commentary on the style or manufacture, and similar sets sold at previous auctions.

This is a new copy of the catalog.  Back cover, slightly scuffed due to shelf wear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~