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"Battle of blondes and brunettes" chessmen (32)

ca. 1870
Not on view
The sides are distinguished by the hair color of the figures, blonde or brunette, and the bases, which are enameled on the blonde side, left white on the brunette side. The set is quite practical, and apart from the subject of its opposition is rather conventional in its major pieces. The king, queen, knight, and rook are in no way unusual; the bishops, however, are ladies, which is not customary. The set was made at the Royal Berlin Porcelain Factory.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Battle of blondes and brunettes" chessmen (32)
  • Manufactory: Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin (German, founded 1763)
  • Date: ca. 1870
  • Culture: German, Berlin
  • Medium: Hard-paste porcelain
  • Dimensions: Height (each queen): 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm);
    Height (each king): 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm);
    Height (each bishop): 2 3/8 in. (6 cm);
    Height (each knight): 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm);
    Height (each rook): 2 3/16 in. (5.6 cm);
    Height (each pawn): 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm)
  • Classification: Chess Sets
  • Credit Line: Gift of Gustavus A. Pfeiffer, 1948
  • Object Number: 48.174.5a–p, aa–pp
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Woman, Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin German, Hard-paste porcelain, German, Berlin
Woman
Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin
Wegely period
ca. 1755
Cup and saucer (trembleuse), Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin German, Hard-paste porcelain, German, Berlin
Cup and saucer (trembleuse)
Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin
ca. 1765–70
Milk or hot water jug (?), Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin German, Hard-paste porcelain, German, Berlin
Milk or hot water jug (?)
Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin
1778–99
Cup (part of a service), Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin German, Hard-paste porcelain, German, Berlin
Cup (part of a service)
Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin
ca. 1790
Saucer (part of a service), Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin German, Hard-paste porcelain, German, Berlin
Saucer (part of a service)
Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin
ca. 1790

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