Publication Date
Fourth-fifth century / eleventh-twelfth century
Publication Place
-
Museum of Islamic Art
Subject
Ivory, lead.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 7 سم؛ القطر: 6.4سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
I. 4670
Record ID
object;ISL;de;Mus01;14;ar
Library Location
Museum of Islamic Art
Date
Fourth-fifth century / eleventh-twelfth century
Notes
The game of chess originated mostly in India and was transmitted through Sasanian Persia to the Islamic world. The Arabs were distinguished by their creation of abstract shapes for chess pieces like this one. They were made from precious materials such as ivory, for example. Other materials such as quartz were also used. Many chess stones made from this rock crystal have been found in the relics of European churches. This stone is considered one of the distinctive pieces because of its large size. Its manufacture required an entire tusk of high quality, and the valuable mass of the entire tusk had to be used. It is believed that the one who requested the manufacture of chess pieces of this size must be of the highest class. This chess stone has a short and thick cylindrical shape, with a round top and a button-shaped base. In terms of its shape, this chess stone belongs to the group of abstract playing stones, and this stone may have represented the Shah (the king). The decoration is eye-catching. There are in the middle of the stone and on its front and back sides, as well as on its upper surface, decorations in the form of crosses and similar things. With flowers and buds. The body is surrounded by decorations in the form of trees, while on the upper surface it is surrounded by crosses and small triangles. This decoration consists of dots and round holes. The lower surface is characterized by the presence of three holes filled with lead. The reason for this is not clear, and perhaps it was to give additional weight to the stone for its stability. What draws attention is the repetition of the decoration in the form of crosses, and it is likely that this stone was made in Sicily. In terms of its general appearance, this stone is made according to the abstract Arab tradition of making playing stones, which continued in southern Italy until the twelfth century AD.
Sample Text
Jens Kröger “Chessstone” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;de;Mus01;14;ar
