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Chess set

20th century
Not on view
The kings and queens are similar, the kings being distinguished by a "robe" of blue striped cotton. The pieces show strong Islamic influence, which is to be expected as the people of Bornu Province are in the main Muslims. There had been contact between Islam and Nigeria for many centuries. Nigeria was visited by the famous traveler Ibn Batuta, who was born in Tangiers in the fourteenth century. The long ears of the rook are an exaggeration of the early form. Interestingly, these long ears also appear on conventional pieces from Scandinavia to which a fourteenth-century date has been assigned. The form of the pawns goes back to early Muslim times also. There is a goatskin board that came with the set, with squares demarcated by incised lines and dyed alternately cream and dark tan; it is slotted at the corners to allow it to be tied down.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Chess set
  • Date: 20th century
  • Culture: Nigerian
  • Medium: Limba wood, goatskin, cotton
  • Dimensions: Height (each king): 7 in. (17.8 cm);
    Height (each pawn): 1 in. (2.5 cm);
    Overall (board): 17 1/2 × 15 3/4 in. (44.5 × 40 cm);
    Overall (original box): 6 1/2 × 12 3/4 × 8 1/4 in. (16.5 × 32.4 × 21 cm)
  • Classification: Chess Sets
  • Credit Line: Gift of Gustavus A. Pfeiffer, 1948
  • Object Number: 48.174.102a–p, aa–pp, q, r, s
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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