A jasperware chess set, made in north Staffordshire and most likely by Wedgwood, perhaps 1800-1820s.

I suppose the fragility of early ceramic meant it wasn’t favoured for small board-game pieces. Too easily brushed off the table, to smash on the floor. But now the industry has the unbreakable Steelite-style of ceramics, one wonders about a revival of the use of ceramics in board-game sets?