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Jaques Boxes, Cases and Caskets

Carton Pierre Caskets

The very first Jaques 3.5" (89 mm) ivory and boxwood and ebony sets were housed in Carton
Pierre (papier mache) caskets. They were advertised with box sitting on the Leuchars Carton Pierre
board, ans customers might buy the board and set, as found for this 1849 set. The casket remained
available without change of design until 1927. It was modified to take a 2 7/8" set by having a
false bottom inside. It was deepened by having a skirting to take the 4,4" ivory sets.
The labels were underneath. They are rare after 1890.



The tooling under the lid can be an important clue to dating in the first five or so years.



The above border is typical of early 1849.



This is the standard post-1855-60 pattern.



Top of lid. Note how the red lining has faded, as it should be. Beware fresh red coming through.





Enlarged casket for 4.4" clubsize set. The base was deepened.

Maogany cases
The mahogany case was introduced also in 1849 for the weighted club-size sets, which
were too heavy for Carton Pierre. In late 1850, mahogany cases were introduced for the
unweighted 3.5" sets, as a cheaper alternative.



A very nice example of an unweighted 1850 set with hand-signed signature by Staunton on
green label under the lid, and registration stickers under pieces. After 1852, only weighted sets
were sold in mahogany cases. A range of cheaper unweighted sets was introduced to be housed
in slide lid boxes.



The above box has an early label that is before 1860, when Jaques son entered the firm.


The club size mahogany casket with trays and partitions for individual ivory pieces is the most
sought after, and top of the Jaques range from 1850.




After 1890, a partition was introduced to separate black from white pieces.



Leather Sarcophagi

Also after 1890, Jaques introduced a leather sarcophagus for ivory setrs, as the gothic
Carton Pierre went out of fashion. They haven't worn well as the leather was thin skiver.