Antique Chessmen (1959)

Chelsea, London. Alex Hammond making a move, looking thoughtful. John Lewis scratches his head. C/U shot of the chessboard, and a hand appears to move a tiny piece. M/S of the two men seated at the miniature chessboard with the game in progress. Alex Hammond has collected chess sets for years and has a shop in Chelsea. C/U of the Delhi set, made by Mahrattas (maharajas?) of India in about 1790, with the pieces representing soldiers of the British East India Company on one side and natives and mythical beasts on the other. C/U shot of an elephant and skirted soldiers. C/U of the white chessmen, and then the red chessmen including a rider on a camel. Various shots of the set including the ornate carving on the king and the queen. C/U shot of the Madras set, which is over 200 years old. C/U shot of ornate carved set on coloured board in Alex Hammond’s shop, pan around chess set figures. C/U of the Burmese set including representations of Beauty and the Beast. Alex Hammond is shown carving a small c