A rare Cantonese Export "Napoleon" ivory chess set, circa 1810
one side (unstained) as the Europeans, the other side (with painted polychrome decoration in green, red and gilt) as the Chinese, white king as Napoleon, white queen as the French consort, polychrome king as the Chinese Emperor, polychrome queen as the Chinese Empress, bishops as mandarins or courtiers, knights as horsemen, rooks as elephants with turrets and flags, pawns as footsoldiers, all raised on puzzle-ball bases and circular bases with carved lotus leaf decoration, the king 15cm high, the pawn 7.5cm high.
