[RETIRE] Chess game in ivory.

31 (of 32) pieces, H. from ca. 6 cm (pawn) to 10 cm (king), sculpted and turned ivory, painted in red for the "black" pieces, knights with tinted glass eyes (1 white rook missing, sm. missing on the crown of the white king).

Under original box in wood covered with green Rexine, two iron locks, inside lined with reddish-brown velvet and decorated silk (sl. rubbed).

Luxury game sold by Henri Delaire (1860-1941), first President of the "Fédération française des échecs", founded in 1921. He was director of the French journal "La Stratégie" and had a chess shop in the "rue des Pyramides" in Paris.
Prov. Game offered by King Alfonso XIII of Spain (1886-1941) to Baron Roger de Borchgrave (1871-1946), Belgian ambassador to Spain (ms. note signed by R. de Borchgrave's nephew; a ms. letter joined, dated Kinshasa 14/01/1973, shows the attempts to have the white king repaired by a Zairian craftsman, who has said "que c'était sans doute du travail sénégalais et fait au tour").