Without a doubt, this is one of the most popular Studio Anne Carlton chess sets and has been for many years. The pieces are based on the characters in Lewis Carroll's famous Alice stories. John Tenniel, the famous Victorian artist and cartoonist, illustrated the Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass books and our designers have based the pieces on his original illustrations. It continues to achieve record sales world-wide and is a MUST for every chess enthusiast and collector. Made entirely by skilled craftsmen, each piece is polished and finely decorated by artists.

Lewis Carroll, the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, was a lecturer in mathematics at Christ Church, Oxford, when he wrote the stories to amuse and entertain the young children of the Dean of Christ Church. He chose as the heroine of his stories Alice Liddell, the eldest daughter of the Dean. The children were so entranced by the stories that their mother persuaded Dodgson to have them published.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland appeared in 1865 and Through the Looking Glass in 1872. Both books were superbly illustrated by John Tenniel and it is on his drawings that these chess figures are based. Indeed Through the Looking Glass has as part of its basic structural theme a game of chess in which Alice, as the White Queen=s pawn, advances to the eighth square where she herself becomes a Queen.The White King and The Red King are the king, with Alice, of course as the queen. Hatta, the messenger serves as the bishop and The White Knight stands for the knight. Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee make excellent rooks while The Rabbit, Haigha the messenger, is the pawn.

Please Note: The Chessboard is NOT INCLUDED with the Chessmen. It must be purchased separately.