Barleycorn chess set
Period
early 19th centuryPlace
England
Material
Ivory
Location
Russia, Moscow, Chess Museum of the Central Chess Club
Category
The GameSubcategory
Chess setsThematic collections
Chess before the 20th century
Curious fact
The third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, owned a similar set
Barleycorn chess sets were very popular in England during the first half of the 19th century. They were carved not only from ivory but also from ordinary cattle bones. While cattle bones are not as suitable for fine crafting as elephant ivory, they still allowed for the creation of good pieces with key characteristics. The name “Barleycorn” comes from the pieces’ design, which includes elements resembling barley grains. The king and queen are decorated with barley heads or leaves.
