CHESS MASTERPIECES: (Later, in Europe, Replaced by a HIGHLIGHTS from the DR

CHESS MASTERPIECES: (later, in Europe, replaced by a HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DR. queen). These were typically flanKed GEORGE AND VIVIAN DEAN by elephants (later to become COLLECTION bishops), though in this case, they are EXHIBITION CHECKLIST camels with drummers; cavalrymen (later to become Knights); and World Chess Hall of Fame chariots or elephants, (later to Saint Louis, Missouri 2.1. Abstract Bead anD Dart Style Set become rooKs or “castles”). A September 9, 2011-February 12, with BoarD, India, 1700s. Natural and frontline of eight foot soldiers 2012 green-stained ivory, blacK lacquer- (pawns) completed each side. work folding board with silver and mother-of-pearl. This classical Indian style is influenced by the Islamic trend toward total abstraction of the design. The pieces are all lathe- turned. The blacK lacquer finish, made in India from the husKs of the 1.1. Neresheimer French vs. lac insect, was first developed by the Germans Set anD Castle BoarD, Chinese. The intricate inlaid silver Hanau, Germany, 1905-10. Silver and grid pattern traces alternating gilded silver, ivory, diamonds, squares filled with lacy inscribed fern sapphires, pearls, amethysts, rubies, leaf designs and inlaid mother-of- and marble. pearl disKs. These decorations 2.3. Mogul Style Set with combine a grid of squares, common Presentation Case, India, 1800s. Before WWI, Neresheimer, of Hanau, to Western forms of chess, with Beryl with inset diamonds, rubies, Germany, was a leading producer of another grid of inlaid center points, and gold, wooden presentation case ornate silverware and decorative found in Japanese and Chinese clad in maroon velvet and silk-lined. obJects. SKetches and documentation variations of chess. for this tour-de-force work were lost The warrior Zahir ud-din Muhammad when the factory was destroyed in Game Position: Babur, from Kabul, Afghanistan, the war. Vinyaka Rajarama Tope Problem: became the first Mogul Emperor of Mate with Pawn in Four Moves c. India in 1525. His Muslim dynasty The faces and hands were produced 1893 exerted the influence of Persian by the German master ivory carvers culture upon his Indian subJects, of Erbach. The pieces on the German including the preference for highly side are gilt over silver with abstracted forms for chess pieces and gemstones inset into the bases of all the crafting of beJeweled sets from pieces. German pawns’ helmets sport precious materials, such as this one gargoyles while the French pawns’ of beryl, a crystalline emerald-like helmets are topped with fleur-de-lis. mineral found in Northern PaKistan. The castle functions as a true fortress, containing drawers in which to secure all the pieces behind the heavy, locKed doors. 2.2. Rajasthan Style Figurative Set, Game Position: India, 1700s. Carved polychromed Wilhelm Steinitz vs. Emanuel Lasker. ivory. This rare group of 700-900 ivory, London, 1899. Vienna Gambit. stone, alabaster, and glass Persian Steinitz Variation This set is in the probable style of pieces is small in size but huge in early Indian chess sets—elaborate influence. They show how Islamic and realistic in depicting the designers created abstract versions components of an Indian army. A of the earlier figurative Indian pieces. raJah, with driver, was perched atop the tallest elephant with his “mantri,” or advisor, on an elephant to his left 1 3.1. Pil (Elephant) with 2 Horns, Persia, 700-900. Ivory with circular The arching, scalloped cutaways of pierced decorations. the gilt silver base are more suggestive of Islamic style as are the The two protrusions signify the tusKs profuse leaf and vine decorative of the elephant found in the earliest motifs related to those on Persian figurative Indian sets. These two prayer rugs. The designs are symmetric points are later 3.7. Mushroom Style Abstract Set executed in niello technique transmuted into the points of the anD EngraveD Silver BoarD, Syria, originated by the Egyptians, a blacK Bishop’s 1600s. Chased, stamped, and mixture of silver, copperm and lead is headpiece, the mitre, in European engraved silver alternately gilt. rubbed or inlayed into engraved or sets. etched metal to heighten the Since the Koran discouraged detailing. 3.2. Pil (Elephant), Persia, 700-900. depiction of humans or animals, this Stone with incised arch motif. is one of many Islamic design motifs Game Position: inspired by plant forms. Technically, al-Adli (c. 800-870). Problem: White The linear arch motif designs may be this is a superb example of chasing, a Plays and Wins. Old Muslim Rules. mimicKing the protruding tusK motif process of hammering or stamping Weak Queen and Leaping Bishop usually expressed in three sheet metal to create 3-D forms. ______________________________ dimensions. This arch motif may also These forms, as well as the board be a precursor to the later “tulip were then covered with a design” chess sets that evolved in combination of complex overall Turkey. engraved and embossed decorative patterning. 3.3. Pil (Elephant), Persia, 700-900. Stone with horizontal decorative Game Position: bands. as-Suli (c. 880-946). Problem: White Plays and Wins. Old Muslim Rules. In this variant, the horizontal banding Weak Queen and Leaping Bishop may have aided in identifying the ______________________________ piece. 3.9. BraiDeD anD EmbroiDereD Moroccan Travel Set anD BoarD, 3.4. Payadah (Pawn), Persia, 700- Morocco, 1800s. Silver and gold lace 900. Glass with traces of small, braid, glass, wood, silver, velvet, and regular painted or incised circular brocade. decorations. This is an example of passementerie, 3.5. Pil (Elephant), Persia, 700- 900. gold and silver decorative braiding Persia. Alabaster. techniques, used to create an entire chess set. Silver and gold was braided In this variant, traces of lathe-turned 3.8. Jade anD Marble Set anD BoarD, over wooden forms fit into chased incised horizontal banding may have Persia, 1800s. Jade and marble pieces silver bases of Moroccan coins. Their aided in identifying the piece. with a board of Jade and marble slight flexibility and eccentric inlaid into a niello decorated gilt abstracted forms suggest exotic 3.6. Asp or Faras (Horseman), Persia, silver 4-legged base. growing plant life. Only the turban- 700-900. Alabaster. like top of the Queens and the horse In this lathe-turned and carved set head form with inset glass eyes of Here, the form of a horse in profile, the elephants are not represented as the Knights are recognizable without rider, has been reduced to a 2 tusKed but rather with single, figurative elements. The folding simple, but symbolic silhouette. downturned trunKs. Western board of heartwood clad in velvet influence can be seen in the cavalry with durable gold thread embroidery pieces depicted as horseheads, similar to western Knights, and the and brocade decorations was made chariots reduced to a wheel motif for caravan travel. The red and green translated into the crownlike cren- color scheme harkens bacK to the elated ramparts of a castle, like the rubies and emeralds in the earliest European style rook. Indian sets. 2 Game Position: as-Suli Problem: Black Plays and Wins. Old Muslim Rules with Weak Queen and Leaping Bishop. This group of French and German pieces from the 1500-1700s shows the rebirth and growing sophistication of figurative carving as European chess set design emerged 5.1. BurgunDy Rock Crystal Set anD from the influence of Islamic BoarD, France, Early 1500s. Carved abstraction. rocK crystal and smoKy topaz, silver, gilt, and metal foils. 6.1. Springer (Knight) or Turm (Rook), Germany, 1500s. Ivory. Chess sets of topaz and rocK crystal, 6.2. Cavalier (Knight), France, 1500s. 3.10. Abstract Tulip Style Set with which is the colorless form of quartz, Ivory. ƐŚƚĈƉĂĚĂ ŽĂƌĚ, Natural and were highly prized by European stained ivory pieces, velvet and gold nobility. The rarity of crystal and Falconry, like chess, was one of the embroidery board. topaz that is both flawless and large Knightly talents of the Middle Ages, enough to carve chess pieces from which helps to identify this piece as a Tulips originally grew wild in Persia, made them greatly desired. To carve Knight. Turkey, and near Kabul but came to and polish the complex shapes in this symbolize nobility and refinement. set would have required the most 6.3. Fou (Fool), France, 1500s. Ivory. The Great Mogul Emperor of India, sKilled artisans with the most Babur, was a tulip fancier as was advanced technology of the era. The Wearing a patterned costume and Ottoman Sultan Ahmed III (1703- crystal and topaz “bodies” are sitting bacK-wards on a donKey, are 1730), whose reign (1718-1730), was mounted in patinated silver and gilt characteristics of the unique French referred to as “The Tulip Era.” Here a bases and topped with hand wrought tradition of sub-stituting a “fou” for combination of deft lathe-turning crowns, horseheads, and caps of the the bishop. and hand-carving was used to depict same materials. This is the only the ensemble of chess pieces as complete set of its Kind. 6.4. Fou (Fool), France, 1500s. Ivory. stages in the growth cycle of this celebrated flower. The board surface is comprised of The fool may have replaced the alternate crystal and topaz squares bishop because of the similarity Travel was long and arduous, even under-laid with silver and gold foil. between the two-pointed mitre for nobility, and since chess was a The surrounding base is of gilt silver headpiece of bishops and the two- favored pastime, boards that could moldings, top and bottom, separated pointed caps of court Jesters. be easily folded or rolled and pacKed by a band of elaborately chased silver were popular. This un-checKered decorations. Each corner is 6.5. Fou (Fool), France, 1700s.

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