Chessmen (32)
Following a common practice in sets made for Muslim players, the king, queen, and rook are the most massive pieces, diminishing in size. The bishops and knights have the lower part of the same height as the rooks but are the tallest of the pieces. The pawns are half the height of the bishops. The translations of the names of the pieces are king, counselor, elephant, horse, chariot, and foot soldier (budaq, taken from the Arabic bidaq). The game thus retains its original meaning.
Artwork Details
- Title: Chessmen (32)
- Date: 19th century
- Culture: Malayan
- Medium: Ivory
- Dimensions: Height (each bishop): 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm);
Height (each pawn): 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) - Classification: Chess Sets
- Credit Line: Gift of Gustavus A. Pfeiffer, 1948
- Object Number: 48.174.103a–p, aa–pp
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
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