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A BERHEMPORE IVORY 'EAST INDIA (JOHN) COMPANY' FIGURAL SET

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:10,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
A BERHEMPORE IVORY 'EAST INDIA (JOHN) COMPANY' FIGURAL SET
Circa 1840 The British East India Company versus Native troops, one side with black stained bases, the other side left natural, kings as elephants with howdahs, queens as elephants with open howdahs and parasols, bishops as camels, knights as horsemen, rooks as turrets with standard bearers, pawns as sepoys wearing pearls, and native troops, the king 4 inches high, the pawn 2 1/2 inches high; together with a framed certificate from Mackett-Beeson explaining the historical background to the set, 10 inches x 7 1/2 inches. (2) NOTE: These sets reflect the extent of British colonialism, before the Indian Mutiny of 1857 led to the imposition of direct rule from the United Kingdom. One side represents the East India Company, while the other side are Indian native troops. The East Indian pawns are Indian-born sepoys in the uniform of the East India Company. Sets such as these were intended for display, rather than play. PROVENANCE: Christie's New York, September 30th, 1979, A. E. J. Mackett-Beeson, The Heathcote Collection. See Phillips New Bond Street, November 14th, 1994, lot 98, for a similar set. $10,000-12,000