Vintage Philippine Maria Clara Chess Set Narra & Kamagong Wood 5”K

Description

We are delighted to offer this hard to find figural Maria Clara chess set. The set is inspired by the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal (1861-1896); celebrating Rizal’s novel heroine. The heroine in his novels, a girl called Maria Clara (Schaakset), was a local “folk hero” who inspired a dance, a song and a form of national dress. It is also said that Rizal is known for having inspired the Filipinos to revolt against their Spanish rulers through his nationalistic writings and supported a local propaganda movement. His two main novels, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (The Subversive), “awakened a nation from a long, deep slumber and highlighted the need for significant reforms and an end to Spanish abuses. The heroine in his novels was a girl called Maria Clara, who is now a local “folk hero” who has inspired a dance, a song and a form of national dress.
This set originates from the Ivatan people of the Batanes islands, which is the northern most region of the Philippines. As with other higher quality Filipino sets, the natural hardwoods are polished and oiled. The white side is made from Acacia or Narra wood (Light Brown), and the black side is made from Kamagong or Banti wood (Dark Brown).
This lovely set is gently used with worn and 4 missing red pads on the bases.
The chessboard measures approximately 18.25”x18.25”
, and i
s in good vintage condition with surface scratches and bumped corners.
The case is made of lightweight wood and is not original to the set. The kings measure approximately 5” high.
The chess pieces are:
* King as Maria’s lover, Crisostomo Ibarra
* Queen as Maria Clara
* Bishops in a Catholic style
* Knights as Water Buffalo
* Rook as Nipa (rice thatched) huts
The Philippines are an archipelago of 7,000 islands and named after King Philip II of Spain (1556-1598). By the 12th Century AD Arab merchants reached the Philippines and they introduced Islam and chess.  Then in 1521 Ferdinand Magellan sailed across the Pacific. He landed in the Philippines and claimed them for Spain. In 1571 the Spanish conquistadors had the Philippines well under control. Together with conquistadors came friars who converted the Filipinos to Catholicism. The friars also built schools and universities.
Then in 1898 came war between the USA and Spain. On 30 April 1898 the Americans defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay and the Philippines became part of the USA. During this time there was also a strong impedance movement, which is reflected in the Maria Clara chess set. Today we still see Muslim, Christian and Tribal influences in historical chess sets.
We ask that you carefully review the photos as they tell so much more than we can articulate; and that you zoom in for a closer look at any and all condition issues. We welcome questions and encourage you to ask before reaching a buying decision. Fixed rate shipping applies to US buyers only.
As always, we thank you for taking a moment to consider this piece. And when you have more time to browse, we welcome your visit to our EBay store at http://stores.ebay.com/thehuntendshere
Shipped by USPS priority mail.