Chessmen (30) and board and box
The red and blue color of the characters is usual in Chinese ivory sets. In the cheaper wooden ones they are yellow and brownish black. The pieces represent: general, counselors, elephants, assistants, horses, chariots, cannons and catapults, and foot soldiers. They are placed on the intersections of the lines, and between the two sides of the board is a space called (Yellow) River. Thus there are ninety places, instead of sixty-four as in the Western game.
The substitution of simple disks with the names upon them can be considered the final change from figural chessmen, such as once were used in China, to conventional pieces.
The two characters near the hinges on the inside of the board signify together "River area" or "river territory." The characters on the exterior signify "article of leisure time" or "of recreation" (leftward of the two vertical legends) and "not to be lent" (horizontal legend). other vertical legend consists of proper names, not readable, possibly a club, shop or other resort where object might have been available for communal use.
The substitution of simple disks with the names upon them can be considered the final change from figural chessmen, such as once were used in China, to conventional pieces.
The two characters near the hinges on the inside of the board signify together "River area" or "river territory." The characters on the exterior signify "article of leisure time" or "of recreation" (leftward of the two vertical legends) and "not to be lent" (horizontal legend). other vertical legend consists of proper names, not readable, possibly a club, shop or other resort where object might have been available for communal use.
Artwork Details
- Title: Chessmen (30) and board and box
- Date: 18th–19th century
- Culture: Chinese
- Medium: Ivory, wood
- Dimensions: Overall (pieces, confirmed): 3/8 × 1 in. (1 × 2.5 cm);
Overall (board, confirmed): 15 11/16 × 14 1/8 in. (39.8 × 35.9 cm) - Classification: Chess Sets
- Credit Line: Gift of Gustavus A. Pfeiffer, 1948
- Object Number: 48.174.55a–o, aa–oo, q, r
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
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