Porcelain chess sets can be extremely collectible and antique ones can be very rare. Companies such as Meissen and The Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin produced them.
Below are some examples and price guides of antique and vintage porcelain chess sets including a Soviet Chess Set and a Herend Chess Set
A RARE SOVIET PORCELAIN CHESS SET ‘THE REDS AGAINST THE WHITES’
State Porcelain Factory, Leningrad, USSR, 1933-1934, after design by Natalia Danko (1892-1942)
On the White side: the King is designed as Death draped in black ermine-lined cloak and holding a sword and long bone; the Queen as Fortuna with a cornucopia spilling gold coins: the Knights as White Army officers dressed in gold and black uniforms; the Bishops as armoured horses surmounted with double-headed eagles, the Rooks as sail boats with crowed masts and sails decorated with pole axe within chain garland; and the Pawns as chained serfs; on the Red side: the King is designed as a blacksmith leaning on a large hammer, the Queen as a peasant maiden holding stalk of wheat and field flowers in one arm and a sickle in the other; the Knights as soldiers dressed in uniform of the Red Army and standing next to the hammer and sickle on the star-shaped pedestal; the Bishops as horses rising from overlapping red stars; the Rooks as sail boats of two slightly varying designs with masts supporting sails in shape of pink stars; and the Pawns as young male peasants holding golden stalks of wheat and silver sickles, all marked underside with blue factory mark
Sold for £ 47,750 (US$ 55,821) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2020
Chess Set (32 Pieces) 1004833.3 – Lladro Porcelain
Glossy finish; Lladro backstamp.
Artist: Julio Fernandez
Issued: 1972-1985
Dimensions: 7.75″H
Manufacturer: Lladro
Country of Origin: Spain
Condition
Good. Board not included.
Sold for $800 at Lion and Unicorn in 2022
Wedgwood 32 pc Porcelain Chess Set w/ Marble Base
Set includes 16 matte blue Wedgwood and 16 matte white Wedgwood playing pieces. Accompanied with a green variegated border black and white square marble board. Pieces measure from 3 3/4″ – 5 3.4″. Board measures 18″ x 18″. Signed with the impressed Wedgwood Made in England stamp on all the 32 pieces. No apparent markings on the board.
Sold for US$840 at MiddleManBrokers Inc in 2022
Herend chess set depicting Hungarian royalty against Austrian peasant workers, the kings measures 3.5″ h. Total of 32 pieces.
Sold for US$1,100 at Amero Auctions in 2022
Vista Alegre Porcelain Orientalist Style Chess SET
Orientalist Blackamoor themed 32 piece chess set. Crafted of fine quality porcelain. Mid century modern whimsical design with Moorish influence. Hand painted in colorful themes on white porcelain. Comes in a lucite divided holder. Chess board doubles as container measures 13 inches high 18 inches wide and 2.25 inches deep. Pawn chess pieces measure 3.5 inches high 1.25 inches wide. King chess pieces measure 4.5 inches high 1.25 inches wide. Vista Alegre Portugal marks on bottom.
Sold for US$2,000 at Hill Auction Gallery in 2022
