Mid Century Turned Boxwood & Ebony St George Pattern Chess Set (UK)

Early mid Century Turned Boxwood & Ebony St George Pattern Chess Set

With Mid-Century Britecrest Folding Chess Board
Largest piece: 11cm

The Chessmen

This is an original early mid-century St George pattern set, turned in boxwood and ebony - an English design that pre-dates the dominance of the Staunton pattern and was favoured throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries for club and campaign play.
    •    Kings measure 11cm
    •    Turned boxwood and ebonised hardwood
    •    Distinctive St George silhouettes: tapered kings, open-worked knights, and the characteristic ringed collars
    •    Warm, even patina consistent with age
The set comes in its original box, now fitted with a newly made replacement lid.

The Chess Board

About Britecrest

Britecrest was a mid-20th-century British manufacturer known for producing well-made games, puzzles and educational toys. Based in England, the company became recognised for its quality printed game boards and boxed sets, often combining traditional designs with durable materials. Their chess boards in particular are identifiable by their decorative printed borders and crisp graphic layouts, usually marked “Made in England – By Britecrest.” Although not a large-scale maker, Britecrest pieces are now collected for their nostalgic charm and for representing a very specific era of British game manufacturing.

Why St George?

The St George pattern sits at a fascinating point in chess design history - bridging the elegant, more decorative 19th-century styles and the cleaner, more standardised Staunton design introduced in 1849. Sets like this were commonly used in English clubs and travelling sets, and they’re now increasingly valued for their craftsmanship and historical significance.

Condition
    •    Chessmen in very good antique condition with age-appropriate wear
    •    Original box present with a newly made lid
    •    Folding board in excellent vintage condition

A characterful combination set that brings together two classic design eras - perfect for collectors, mid-century enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates traditional turning and early English chess design.