Art Deco Chess Table, 1920s

Scandinavia
Birch
Art Deco around 1925

Dimensions: H x W x D: 68 x 48 x 48 cm

Play table made of solid birch, standing on a four-legged, double-arched substructure.

The blackened edge of the board forms a sharp contrast to the light-coloured wood. The border of the playing field is coloured in dark red.
The chessboard consists of alternating mahogany and gold-coloured squares. The gold has faded and become dull over the decades.
One side of the board edge is locked and can be opened sideways. The game board can now be pulled out to reveal the compartment underneath, which is used to store the pieces.
If we turn the board over, we see another playing field with more and smaller squares. As this side of the board was apparently mostly turned downwards and therefore less exposed to environmental influences such as light and moisture, the colours here are almost original. Here we can see the rich gold colour, as it was probably originally on the other side.

The playing pieces are certainly original to the table. If we compare the tower with the centre element of the table substructure, we can see that the design here speaks the same language.
The condition of the figures also corresponds to the state in which the table was found. They were played here frequently and regularly. The relatively small size of the pieces can possibly be explained by their use on the smaller squares on the other side of the board.

Condition:
Restored condition with patina preserved. Signs of age and use have been deliberately preserved and conserved. The construction is stable and suitable for everyday use. The colour finish is rubbed in accordance with use.