William Lund Chess Set, Signed, 1835-46

Boxwood & Indian Rosewood Chess Set by William Lund, 1835-46

Kings with multiple balusters and reeeded urn finials, queens with reeded balls and fleur de lys finials, bishops with open mitres, knights as carved horses’ heads, rooks as turrets, pawns with reeded ball finials, stamped on the rim of the white king base: W. LUND 24. FLEET STt, boxwood queen missing finial, boxwood pawn missing ball finial, some chipping

King: 9cm high

Pawn: 4.4cm high

Stock Reference: NC 1633

Illustrated with an early 19th century English board which is being sold separately. Please click here to see it.

The Lund family were well-known turners and manufacturers of fancy goods during the Victorian period. Thomas Lund established his business and warehouse at 57 Cornhill, London in 1804, initially selling pens and quills and later, cutlery, writing boxes, dressing cases and other fancy goods including chess sets. 

William Lund (Thomas’s son) set up his manufactory and retail shop at 24 Fleet Street, London in 1835. The property had been acquired from William Anderson, a cutler and razor manufacturer, under whom William Lund had been previously apprenticing. At that time, Fleet Street enjoyed a cluster of shops specifically selling luxury goods to the carriage trade.

Thomas and William ran their businesses independently, but after Thomas’s death in 1845, William took over the running of both, whilst also expanding his own premises to include 23 Fleet Street. By 1859, the Fleet Street premises had again expanded to include No. 25.

When William Lund died in 1872, his son Charles continued on the business under the name of William Lund & Son.