Recent arrivals
Every museum needs to be cleaned , rearranged and have the exhibits repositioned every now and then. Plus show traveling exhibits, run special shows, have children's and amateurs classes etc. Although the management here is a bit thin, we shall try to live up to these standards...in the meantime, here are a few new entries to the collection....
Moro chessmen
Quite interesting playing set from the Philippine island of Mindanao, which has been practically in a constant state of war since the 60ies, making these sets rare to obtain. These are muslim sets, abstract and nonfigurative - typical is the okir piece for the knight, which reflects pre-muslim religious and artistic symbols. These sets probably would be better termed Mindanao sets - Moro was what the spanish who ruled the Philippines over 300 years called all muslim populations. Very catching are the irregular ornamental bands on the white king, queen and one rook, also in okir wave style - the black side is made from water buffalo horn, and sports no ornaments at all!
Missing Link?
Lots of people have been wondering on the details of the transition from the old Viennese "Biedermeier" to the later Coffeehouse pieces - is this handsome Old Vienna set with the urn tops bishops the missing link? Too good to be true - but the highly unusual bishop finials do have a vague ressemblance to some of the weirder "Biedermeier" outcroppings (hats, balls and what not...). In any case , a fairly rare variety, possibly just one Vienna cabinet maker´s idea of doing something differently...
Bone caskets
These handsome bone sets are variously attributed to Danish. to Dutch or even Indian turners! The most likely version places them in the fertile hands of Nuremberg craftsmen, from the mid 19th century till about the 1930ies. But nobody really knows for sure. as these sets do not appear in the standard pattern books. In any case, the affinities with standard Nuremberg rope pattern Barleycorns are unmistakable. Out of the ordinary bishops, lots of borehole decorations, and quite odd pawn tops - these kings and queens are certainly more stable on their bases than the Barleycorns....
Pewter Cuties
Flat pewter figurines, faintly reminiscent of the famous coloured tin sets from the Nuremberg Hilpert workshop of the late 18th century. Very well painted in high detail, quite delicate as pewter will be, need to be protected in a glass case....this is a contemporary set by the pewter crafts Shop Kühn in Bavaria , they are still available.
Turingian Porcelain
Substantial porcelain figures, most likely made in the days of the GDR in the manufactory Ernst Bohne & Sons, which then under GDR rules had been merged with the former Sitzendorf porcelain works, After 1990 the company emerged from the turbulences of the unfication of the two German states as Manufactory Albert Stahl, and today seems to be flourishing - and is still producing these chesmen, plus several other designs! This set probably dates back to GDR days, is strongly, but sloppily coloured in two contrasting colours- actual editions are much better made! Attractive is the fact that bishops and rooks on each side are quite different....
Swiss ticker
A simple and modest swiss clock, with complete alarm clock casings inserted in a wooden block. It must be rare - I have never seen one before. The clockworks are unknown to me. Should be from the 50ies...
Jumping crocodiles
60ies congo ivory set, rather delicate - with jumping crocs! This type of set must have been a standard souvenir in the Belgian Congo of those years, depicting the traditional tribal society of - which people? Both sides are probably carved in hippo tusk, the dark side blackened (with shoeblack, as I have seen done recently?) The same set can be seen on www.ccifrance, exactly here (scrolling to the end...)....