Chess set
The set, which was made for playing, is representational. The king is a "Great King," here a seated figure. He has not a queen but a lieutenant general, also seated, with a small round shield in one hand. The elephant with rider (bishop) represents, as it did in the original Indian game, the elephant corps, and a horse and rider (knight) represents the cavalry. The pagoda-like structure is the chariot, or rook. The pawns are foot soldiers. Burmese sets are sometimes white and red, as well as green and red like this one.
Artwork Details
- Title: Chess set
- Date: 18th century
- Culture: Burmese chessmen with British board
- Medium: Ivory, leather
- Dimensions: Height (each king): 2 3/4 in. (7 cm);
Height (each queen): 2 3/4 in. (7 cm);
Height (each bishop): 2 3/4 in. (7 cm);
Height (each knight): 2 3/4 in. (7 cm);
Height (each rook): 2 3/4 in. (7 cm);
Height (each pawn): 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm);
board: 17 3/4 × 17 3/4 in. (45.1 × 45.1 cm) - Classification: Chess Sets
- Credit Line: Gift of Gustavus A. Pfeiffer, 1948
- Object Number: 48.174.107a–p, aa–pp, q
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
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