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Identification

Vintage Hong Kong Staunton-Style Chess Set in Folding Board Case

Photo reference

5 uploaded photos

Overview

Identified as a Staunton-style chess set housed in a folding wooden case that serves as the board. The foil label 'Made in Hong Kong' points to a mid-20th-century export production (roughly 1950s-1970s).

Story

Produced in Hong Kong during the mid-20th century (c. 1950s-1970s), these sets were popular export items aimed at Western tourists and international markets. The 'Genuine Ivory' foil labels were sometimes applied loosely by manufacturers to carved bone or fine-grained wood sets to inflate retail appeal during the period. The market for mid-century Asian export chess sets is steady but highly dependent on material, size, and completeness.

Maker / Origin

Unattributed

Condition & Value

The set appears complete with 32 pieces and its original folding case that doubles as the board. The primary condition and valuation factor is the material integrity; the red-stained pieces show longitudinal grain typical of wood or bone, rather than the cross-hatching of ivory.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

The market for mid-century Asian export chess sets is steady but highly dependent on material, size, and completeness. Sets verified as bone or high-quality wood in their original folding cases are popular among casual collectors and decorators. However, sets with ambiguous 'ivory' labels face strict platform bans on major marketplaces unless definitively proven otherwise, which currently suppresses liquidity for mislabeled or unverified items.

Value Drivers

▲ Complete 32-piece set with original fitted folding case anchors the baseline value.

▲ Mid-century Hong Kong export origin provides established collector and decorator appeal.

▲ Intricate carving on Staunton-style pieces elevates it above standard smooth-turned sets.

Concerns

▼ Material contradiction — the 'Genuine Ivory' label conflicts with visual wood/bone grain, creating listing hazards and value confusion.

▼ Unverified King height — standard tournament size (3. 5 inches or taller) commands a premium over smaller travel sizes.

▼ Unverified piece bases — a lack of weighting or felting would position this as a lower-tier tourist export.

Best Venue

Do not list this item on major platforms (such as eBay or Etsy) with the word 'Ivory' in the title or description, as it will likely trigger automatic takedowns and potential account strikes. Verify the material of the white pieces locally. If confirmed as bone or wood, list it as a 'Vintage Hong Kong Carved Bone/Wood Chess Set' with a fixed price of $120, accepting offers down to $75.

Upside Potential

If a professional physical appraisal confirms the white pieces are indeed genuine antique ivory (despite the red pieces appearing as wood/bone), the set's value would increase substantially into the $300-$600 range, though its sale would be legally restricted to specialized auction houses with proper documentation.

Authenticity Risk

high

There is a direct contradiction between the manufacturer's foil label ('Genuine Ivory') and the visual evidence (longitudinal grain lines indicating wood or bone on the red pawn). Misrepresentation of materials in mid-century Hong Kong exports was common. Selling this as ivory without verifying the presence of Schreger lines poses significant legal and platform-compliance risks.

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 5 comps

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

  • Craigslist
    Vintage Chinese Resin Figural Chess Set – Hinged Board Box – 31 Pieces
    Figural style rather than Staunton, and incomplete (31 pieces).
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  • eBay
    VTG Chess Piece Only Set Of 32 Western Publishing Hong Kong Ivory Black Plastic
    Plastic pieces by Western Publishing; different material and market tier.
    $14
  • eBay
    Vintage Asian Chess Pieces Only Plastic Hong Kong w/ Boxes 70s-80s READ
    Plastic pieces only; different material and missing the case.
    $11
  • Kavanagh Auctions· 2022-03-19
    Chinese Carved Chess Set, 1960s Hong Kong
    Sale on record but hammer price not published.
    No price
  • eBay· 2023-08-10
    Vintage Hand Carved Chess Set Wooden Folding Case Hong Kong
    Sale on record but hammer price not published.
    No price