A Rare Cut-Glass Elephant-Form Chess Piece, Persia or Syria, 10th-14th Century

of rich turquoise glass, cylindrical form with flat base and slightly domed top, carved in relief into a stylised elephant

In generally good condition, chips and losses to extremities, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The most popular indoor game of Abbasid Baghdad, chess spread to the Levant, North Africa and the Byzantine Empire via the Islamic conquests. During the eleventh and twelfth centuries chess was played only in noble and royal circles, and so the sets were often made  from luxury materials such as ivory and rock crystal. 

Elephant-form chess pieces have been found across the Middle East, Iran and India, as well as the Central Asian regions, although they have generally been of abstract form and not figuratively resemblant, as in this example. The Book of Gifts and Rarities, which describes a number of objects from the Fatimid palace treasuries, mentions chess pieces made from numerous materials including gold and silver (see Rosser-Owen 2004, p.22). Few, however, have been found made of glass, although one such piece (smaller than this example) can be found in the Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait.