Oxbridge chess pieces

$399.00

Designs taken from key figures relating to the two historic towns and rivals of Oxford and Cambridge, the two sides to this set are differentiated by an ebony/ivory colour. 

Key figures:

Oxford (dark) side :

  • King: William Herbert, third Earl of Pembroke, who guards the entrance to the Bodleian Library (2.5" tall) 
  • Queen: Queen Caroline of Ansbach, who sits above the entrance to Queen's College
  • Bishop: John Locke, who graces the stairs to Christchuch College library.
  • Knight: Punter
  • Castle: Carfax Tower, a remnant of the twelfth century St. Martin's church in the centre of Oxford
  • Pawn: Graduating student

Cambridge (light) side:

  • King: Henry VIII, who overlooks Trinity Street from the main entrance to Trinity College
  • Queen: Lady Margaret Beaufort, whose bust can be found located above the passage from the first to second courtyard at St John's
  • Bishop: Sir Isaac Newton, who was a student at Cambridge (though interestingly, he can also be found in the court of the Oxford Museum of Natural History on Broad Street)
  • Knight: Punter
  • Castle: Church of St Mary, overlooking Cambridge Marketplace
  • Pawn: Graduating student

Antique finish only, made in Germany.

 

Due to being a hand painted artisan product, every set will be unique and your set will vary slightly in colour from the pictures on our website.

These playing pieces look beautiful on our traditional wood boards. A board is not included. We recommend playing this set on a 16" board, and have pictured it on the 16" Ridley board (sold separately).