| Ivory chess sets have a long and distinguished history, | | | | hundreds of years ago when historical ivory chess |
| going back nearly to the advent of the game itself. | | | | sets were made. Now, ivory chess sets are usually |
| Ivory has been used for many centuries in the | | | | only for collectors. Vintage ivory chess sets can sell |
| construction of chess sets. Some of the earliest chess | | | | for many thousands of dollars, while new ivory chess |
| pieces still in existence are made of ivory. | | | | sets rarely sell for under $900. New Ivory chess sets |
| The British Museum displays a few ivory chess pieces | | | | are extremely rare because ivory is much harder to |
| from the 7th and | | | | come by. Though ivory was once commonly used in |
| 8th centuries found in modern day Uzbekistan. These | | | | the construction of many objects, it is now rarely used |
| ancient chess pieces are in a different form than | | | | due to animal rights issues and the advent of plastic. |
| modern day chess pieces because they come from a | | | | One main reason why ivory is rare now is because |
| time when chess was primarily an Islamic game. The | | | | many people object to animals such as elephants and |
| pieces had a much different appearance because | | | | mammoths being killed in order to cultivate the ivory |
| they reflected a different society. In the 19th century, | | | | from their teeth and tusks. Imitation ivory is a good |
| Nathaniel Cook and John Jaques created the first set | | | | modern alternative because it is much less expensive |
| of Staunton chess pieces out of ivory. The Staunton | | | | and does not use any animal parts. |
| style of chess pieces became the standard that is still | | | | Ivory chess sets are valuable collector's items. People |
| in use today. | | | | often pay thousands of dollars for these rare and |
| Ivory is not nearly as common today as it was | | | | historic chess sets. |