Thirty-six pieces make up this Staunton style chess set, contained in a circular hand-woven basket. It was bought at Stockbridge Market in Edinburgh around 1940. Fishermen relaxed by carving such pieces and playing the game.

This basket is made from split lengths of rattan. It has a green plastic handle lid attached with twine.The chess pieces are carved from whale ivory. White pieces are left the natural colour, while black ones are hand-painted with India ink.

Whaling was an important industry in Scotland from the seventeenth to the early twentieth century, especially in Dundee, just across theTay River from Fife. Whale bone and ivory were used to carve trinkets as gifts for friends and relatives at home.

©SCRAN/Fife Council
Basket and whale ivory carved chess pieces