WONDERFUL SET OF 32 AFRICAN RHODESIAN SOAPSTONE CHESS PIECES HANDCARVED AND RARE - KING 15CM HIGH! - TOTAL WEIGHT 8KG!

THESE BEAUTIFUL CHESS SET ARE HANDCRAFTED OUT OF SOAPSTONE. MADE BY THE SHONA PEOPLE IN OLD RHODESIA DURING THE MID TWENTIETH CENTURY. RARE AND DIFFICULT TO FIND ANOTHER EXAMPLE.

32 PIECES ALL INDIVIDUALLY HAND CARVED MAKING EACH PIECE UNIQUE ONE SET IN BLACK SOAPSTONE AND ANOTHER IN GREEN SOAPSTONE. FANTASTIC WEIGHT AND TEXTURE.

THE KING IS 15CM HIGH! AND HAS A SPEAR IN ONE HAND AND IS SMOKING A PIPE WITHTHE OTHER HAND.
THE QUEEN IS 14CM HIGH AND LOOKS PREGNANT.
THE ROOKS ARE 12CM HIGH FEATURES A BEARD AND HOLDS A CUP IN EACH HAND.
THE HORSES HAVE A SHIELD IN ONE HAND AND A SPEAR IN THEOTHER. THEY ARE 10CM HIGH.
THE BISHOPS ARE 11CM HIGH AND LOOKS TO BE ONE LARGE SPEARPOINT.
THE 16 SOLDIERS ARE EACH 6CM HIGH EACH WITH AN UNIQUELY CARVED FACE.

AFRICAN RHODESIAN STYLE: Each piece for that matter represents the image or style of the old African Rhodesian culture.

HAND CARVED: BEAUTIFULLY HAND CARVED CHESS PIECES EACH ONE EXHIBITING ITS OWN AFRICAN FEATURES AND CHARACTER IN THE INTERESTING AND VARIED PATTERNS FOUND IN THE HAND HEWN STONE WORK.
A MUST HAVE PIECE FOR A CHESS COLLECTOR OR AN ENCHANTING GIFT FOR THAT SPECIAL GRANDMASTER IN YOUR LIFE.

SIZE: LARGE SIZE: KING 15CM HIGH QUEEN 14CM HIGH ROOK 12CM HIGH BISHOP 11CM HIGH HORSES 10CM HIGH SOLDIERS 6CM HIGH
TOTAL WEIGHT: 8.1KG!

Condition: SOME OF THE PIECES HAVE A FEW NICKS AND SMALL CHIPS TO THE SOAPSTONE. ALL THE PIECES ARE THERE AND OVERALL IN GOOD CONDITION. NO MATCHING BOARD BUT IF BUYER INTERESTED I HAVE A LARGE WOODEN CHESS BOARD ALSO ON AUCTION THIS WEEK THAT WILL EASILY FIT THESE LARGE PIECES

SOAPSTONE AND SOAPSTONE:
Soapstone is a metamorphic rock. There are two different materials popularly called soapstone. The first being Talc, the softest mineral on earth, mostly used in the manufacturing of cosmetics, and everyday items such as toothpaste, baby powder and even chewing gum.
The Soapstone that is used in sculptures is an alternate material known as steatite.
Steatite is composed of several minerals, but the most abundant is talc. Steatite, because of its additives, is harder than talc, and hence suitable for sculpture.
This naturally quarried stone is softer than most other naturally occurring minerals. Although soft, soapstone is a very dense(non-porous) stone; more so than marble, slate, limestone and even granite.
Since soapstone is impenetrable, it will not stain, no liquid will permeate its surface. Other stones, including granite, have a propensity to soil.
PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED. HAVE A LARGE WOODEN CHESS BOARD ALSO ON AUCTION THIS WEEK THAT WILL EASILY FIT THESE LARGE PIECES.