Chessmen (32)
Eastern convention is followed in having a general instead of a queen, and an elephant instead of a bishop-with a rider for the "good" side, without for the 'bad" side. Russian convention has ships for rooks; here they too are differentiated, by being double-masted on the "good" side, having only one mast on the other. The white king, general, and pawns are dressed like Roman soldiers, the corresponding red pieces like Turks. The white king and general have European mid-eighteenth-century hairstyles, with long curls above the ears and long queues tied with a ribbon at the neck. This set is thus very characteristic of a group of Russian sets in which some Eastern conventions are seen alongside of European ones.
Artwork Details
- Title: Chessmen (32)
- Date: 18th–19th century
- Culture: Russian, Kholmogory
- Medium: Walrus ivory
- Dimensions: Height (each king): 3 in. (7.6 cm);
Height (each pawn): 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm) - Classification: Chess Sets
- Credit Line: Gift of Gustavus A. Pfeiffer, 1948
- Object Number: 48.174.123a–p, aa–pp
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
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