1,000-Year-Old Chess Set To Be Auctioned

A chess set that is more than 1,000 years old is being sold at auction.

The 10th century set forms part of a sale of items that are related to the ancient game, said to be of "huge significance" to its history.

The set is believed to have been made in the city of Nishapur, northeast Persia (the former name for Iran), in the Samanid period and consists of pieces that are the equivalent to modern pawns, knights, bishops, rook and the king and queen.

The 16 ivory pieces show the kings and queens as stylised 'animal' figures and the knights and rooks are also in stylised form.

It was previously owned by German chess grandmaster Lothar Schmid. who is known for refereeing what was regarded as the Match of the Century between American Bobby Fischer and Soviet Boris Spassky, played during the height of the Cold War.

Sotheby's said the set is important to the understanding of how chess developed and was spread throughout the Middle East.

It is believed to have originated in India some time before the 6th century before spreading to Persia and the rest of Europe and Asia along trade routes including the Silk Road.

The set is expected to make between £20,000 and £30,000 in a sale at the auction house in London on 20 April, with the wider collection expected to bring in up to £117,000.