War Games Archives - All Collectible Games

Chess Pieces

Sun, 09 May 2021 11:54:34 +0000

Chess pieces can be collectible in their own right. A chess set consists of 32 pieces, 16 on each sides. Normally they are black and white but sometimes they can be in other colors such as red and white or made of other materials such as ivory or precious metals.

On each side there is a king, a queen, two knights, two bishops, two rooks and eight pawns.

Below are some examples and price guides of some chess pieces including a Scandinavian king from the 12th century and a parcel-gilt silver knight chess piece.

A ‘PAWN’ CHESS PIECE BY MARTIN BROTHERS unsigned, circa 1900 glazed stoneware 8cm high

Sold for £ 1,530 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2019

This chess piece of a queen seated inside a castle is modeled on similar pieces made in the Arab world in the 8th and 9th centuries and brought to western Europe as gifts or articles of trade. The queen’s headdress, a close-fitting hood with headband, is typical, though, of royal garments worn in 12th-century Spain. The piece is carved from a walrus tusk, used as a cheaper alternative to elephant ivory. This is the only medieval chess piece of a queen in an American collection.

Reference: The Walters Art Museum

A parcel-gilt silver and ivory chess piece (knight), unmarked, probably Hanau, circa 1900 resting on a rectangular terrace adorned with a double-headed eagle escutcheon stamped with a count coronet, surrounded with foliage and lion’s muzzle, the horse adorned with ceremonial armor inlaid with cabochons of colored stones, the knight with ivory face wearing a dragon crested helmet

Sold for 8.190 EUR at Sotheby’s in 2020

Chess piece Scandinavian (possibly Denmark)Medievalearly 12th centuryObject Place: Scandinavia (possibly Denmark)

This king is perhaps the only remaining piece of an unusually elaborate early Romanesque chess set of walrus ivory. The figure is seated in a high-backed throne and holds in his right hand the hair of a warrior in mail who stretches out in submission. The throne back is decorated with intertwined dragon-like beasts, one of which is biting the warrior’s behind. The decoration on the left side of the throne is missing, but one can assume that it continued to the back and right around the throne. The iconography may allude to Sigurd overcoming the wicked Regin, a favorite theme in Norse poetry, or may represent the conquered monsters of the netherworld. The intricate carving with its free and restless rhythmic motion recalls the style of the incised drawings on the earlier Viking tombstone on the Isle of Man and the Swedish runestones of Sparlosa and Ramsund, 3 which depict the story of Sigurd and Regin.

Reference: Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Knight Chess Piece ca. 1250 British

Although the number of Knights and Bishops on the chessboard is the same, more medieval chess pieces in the form of Knights survive. This example, perfectly poised on his fine horse, battles a dragon, a symbol of evil. But for the lack of a halo and a princess in need of rescue standing nearby, he might be mistaken for Saint George, who, according to legend, slayed a dragon.

Reference: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Boer War Games

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 12:53:29 +0000

Boer War Games. There were two Boer Wars, the First Boer War was between 1880 and 1881. It was also known as the First Anglo-Boer War. The second Boer War was fought between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902 and was also known as the Boer War, Anglo-Boer War, or South African War. Reference: Wikipedia

Below are some examples and price guides of Boer War games including a rare set of model soldiers and a board game entitled “Called to Arms” which was a game of chance.

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Napoleonic Games

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 11:39:18 +0000

It is thought that many Napoleonic games were made by prisoners of war. Many of these show excellent workmanship and are often worked in ivory or bone. Other games with a Napoleonic interest can consist of board games to commemorate the wars such as the “Jeu de Grand-Homme” board game shown below.

Below are some examples and price guides of Napoleonic games including a bone war ship model and a prisoner of war domino set with watercolor panels.

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Warship Games

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 10:48:01 +0000

Warship games or battleship games have been popular for many years but particularly so during the war years. They often consisted of strategy games although card games and even bagatelle were known to depict warships.

Below are some examples and price guides of warship games or battleships including a “War at Sea” by McLoughlin and a French prisoner of war domino game in a battleship shaped box.

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Toy Soldiers

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 17:10:46 +0000

Toy soldiers are technically a toy rather than a game, however they are collectible and well worth a mention. Early ones were usually made of lead but nowadays plastic is mainly used.

Britains was a leading manufacturer as well as Elastolin and other makers.

Below are some examples and price guides of toy soldiers including a Group of Britains from various Sets including Evzones (pre-war), Gurkhas, Soviet Army, and others

Large collection of 65 small-scale (32mm) hand-painted metal toy soldiers., various sets – French Imperial and British troops, blue, green and red coats, some on horseback, generals, drummers, a British flag bearer. * a few in the collection appear to be missing tips of rifles

Sold for US$100 at Connoisseur Auctions in 2024

Aohna Plastic Greek Army Sets

15 pieces. Mint condition. Boxes excellent.

Sold for US$400 at Old Toy Soldier Auctions USA in 2023

Alan F. Kelsey The Essex Regiment Brand Signed Custom 1:32 WWI Daimler Military Truck. Set contains an interesting mobile Krupp’s Howitzer & Toy Soldiers with Wooden Box. Set is custom-made and hand-painted World War I soldiers and vehicles in a custom wooden box that was made by the toy soldier artist Alan F. Kelsey (1925-2014) of Bradenton, Florida and formerly of Buffalo. New York. It is signed on the bottom and marked with the date of 12/01.

Sold for US$475 at Marz Auctions in 2024

Group of Britains from various Sets including Evzones (pre-war), Gurkhas, Soviet Army, and others. 40 figures. Some paint loss and some loose/missing arms.

Sold for US$290 at Weiss Auctions in 2023

HOCKER TOY SOLDIERS SET #48 | Rare set #48 “Naval Brigade Siege Artillery”, remains tied on cards. | 54mm | (Mint Condition) in box.

Sold for US$325 at Bertoia Auctions in 2023

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Prisoner of War Games

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 13:24:15 +0000

Prisoner of War Games. This post is about antique prisoner of war games as opposed to the modern computer game of “Prisoner of War“. Prisoners during conflict would often carve and make many different items. It is similar to that of trench art. During the earlier war years captured prisoners would often make games carved out of bone and ivory.

Below are some examples and price guides of prisoner of war games, including a Prisoner-of-War carved and paint-decorated bone games box and a w ooden book form games box.

A Prisoner-of-War carved and paint-decorated bone game box circa 1815
Casket form, with sliding roof-top cover, overall with fourteen watercolor panels displayed behind glass, the case featuring town and seascapes to sides and flower basket and urn to ends, the cover depicting two amorous couples and two pairs of hearts pierced with arrows; containing game pieces including painted bone playing cards, dominoes, and a single teetotum; retaining old written label (illegible) to underside.

Sold for US$1,200 at Freeman’s in 2022

NAPOLEONIC PRISONER-OF-WAR CARVED WOODEN BOOK-FORM GAME BOX
Early 19th Century
Sliding cover with bone inlay. Contains 36 bone dominoes and three dice.
Length 4.75”.

Sold for US$400 at Eldred’s in 2022

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War Chess Sets

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 13:48:38 +0000

War Chess Sets. Chess sets which depict wars are very collectible. Some were made during the war years while others commemorate wars. Both antique and modern chess sets in these themes can be found. Antique ones were often made to be played but modern ones tend to be more for collectors.

Below are some examples and price guides of war chess sets including an early 19th prisoner of war chess set and a rare Soviet “Reds against Whites” chess set made from porcelain.

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

SET OF PRISONER-OF-WAR CARVED BONE AND WOOD CHESS PIECES
Britain/France, Early 19th Century
Complete set of 32 pieces, the black pieces carved from wood or with wood plinths, and the white pieces entirely in bone. Some polychroming. Includes a lift-top mirrored shadow box for display.
Heights from 1.5″ to 2.5″. Box height 5″. Length 14″. Width 12″.

Sold for US$2,500 at Eldred’s in 2022

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Antique War Games

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 13:48:38 +0000

Antique War Games. War games have been played with for centuries and vary considerably. Some games were made by prisoners of war while others depicted soldiers, war ships, battle strategies, or other themes connected with wars.

Some games could be very simple, such as the “Drummer Boy” game below. This was similar to other children’s games often found in annuals. Other games were more complicated and tended to lean towards adults.

Below are some examples and price guides of antique war games including a game entitled “War at Sea” and some French war games.

A Drummer Boy Game by Parker bros. Salem, Massachusetts. An original vintage board game. The cover depicts a young drummer in front of a war scene. In the game, you need to go through the playing field from the drummer boy to the colonel. Good condition with some stains and signs of use.

Dimensions: 15 x 8 1/2 in., (38 x 21.5 cm.)

Sold for US$200 at Antique Arena Inc. in 2020

Collection of tin soldiers. 20th century. Partly in original box. Hinchliffe Models Ltd. Meltham England.

Sold for €120 at Twents Veilinghuis in 2022

1897 Seo Hall & Son War At Sea Game

Large Format box, 16 X 23” with amazing cover art with bow-forward battleship. Top has some side remnants still attached. Inner board mounted to paper over wood frame with hinged game piece cover with 14 diecast pieces in the shape of ships,many have damage, though nice to see any at all! It shows wear commiserate with age and play.

Sold for US$340 at Weiss Auctions in 2022

French Board Games by Saussine Co. of Paris

These three board games depict two battle scenes and one game of see-saw. Jeu De La Bascule or The See-Saw game is written in French and English to follow. Garnd Jeu de la Guerre or Grand War under Napoleon, and Jeu Marocain or the War in Morocco that includes warriors from both sides. The games have no instructions other than your imagination. From 13 x 14 inches to 13 x 19 inches. Printed by the Saussine Co. of Paris France c1900

Sold for US$70 at Holabird Western Americana Collections in 2021

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