- 96
A large Fatimid rock crystal chess piece, Egypt, 11th century
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Rock Crystal
carved with deep bevel-cut scroll designs and dash details
Provenance
Ex-Collection Lothar Schmid (1928-2013)
Literature
PUBLISHED:
W. Seipel, Spielwelten der Kunst. Kunstkammer spiele (exh. cat.), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, 21 May - 2 August, 1998, p.112, no.38.
J. Petzold, Das königliche Spiel. Die Kulturgeschichte des Schachs, Stuttgart – Leipzig 1987, Abb. 7 c: zu Bergkristallfiguren.
LITERATURE:
Schmidt, 'Die Hedwigsgläser und die verwadten fatimidischen Glas-und Kristallschnitte', in: Schlesiens Vorzeit in Bild und Schrift, Neue Folge VI, 1912, pp.53-78.
C.J. Lamm, Mittelalterliche Gläser und Steinschnittarbeiten aus dem nahen Osten, 2 Bde., Berlin, 1929, taf. 76/77.
Erdmann, 'Fatimid rock crystals', in: Oriental Art III, 1951.
Kluge-Pinsker, Die Salier. Schchspiel und Trictrac. Zeugnisse mittelalterlicher Spielfreude aus salischer Zeit, Sigmaringen, 1991, p.35.
Thamm, Das sog. Schachpiel Karls des Groβen im Osnabrücker Domschatz und verwandte Schchfiguren, Mag.-Arbeit Osnabrück, WS, 1995/96.
W. Seipel, Spielwelten der Kunst. Kunstkammer spiele (exh. cat.), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, 21 May - 2 August, 1998, p.112, no.38.
J. Petzold, Das königliche Spiel. Die Kulturgeschichte des Schachs, Stuttgart – Leipzig 1987, Abb. 7 c: zu Bergkristallfiguren.
LITERATURE:
Schmidt, 'Die Hedwigsgläser und die verwadten fatimidischen Glas-und Kristallschnitte', in: Schlesiens Vorzeit in Bild und Schrift, Neue Folge VI, 1912, pp.53-78.
C.J. Lamm, Mittelalterliche Gläser und Steinschnittarbeiten aus dem nahen Osten, 2 Bde., Berlin, 1929, taf. 76/77.
Erdmann, 'Fatimid rock crystals', in: Oriental Art III, 1951.
Kluge-Pinsker, Die Salier. Schchspiel und Trictrac. Zeugnisse mittelalterlicher Spielfreude aus salischer Zeit, Sigmaringen, 1991, p.35.
Thamm, Das sog. Schachpiel Karls des Groβen im Osnabrücker Domschatz und verwandte Schchfiguren, Mag.-Arbeit Osnabrück, WS, 1995/96.
Condition
Intact, the bottom, circular edge chipped and external surfaces with scratches and light abrasion, 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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Belonging to the rare corpus of Fatimid carved rock crystal chess pieces; this king or queen exemplifies the importance accorded to the game of chess as well as the opulence of the tenth century dynasty.
The feat of carving rock crystal, an extremely hard element, was mastered by the Fatimids in the tenth century as evident from the magnificent, but limited, corpus of remaining works, including ewers, flasks and chess pieces. It was the abundant wealth of the Fatimid caliphs that permitted them to commission works of such refinement as the present chess piece.
A particularly close example to the present piece is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv. no. 669:1, 2-1883). Described as “probably a king", it also features a stylised, uneven, foliate design separated by an etched border. A further comparison should be made with two groups of rock crystal chess sets, notably a collection of ten from the famed Ager chess set, including two kings or viziers, two bishops, two knights, a rook and three pawns now in the Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait (inv. no. LNS I Has-j, and published in Jenkins 1983, p.60), as well as eight rock crystal chess pieces which are now in the Diocesan Museum in Orense, Spain.
The feat of carving rock crystal, an extremely hard element, was mastered by the Fatimids in the tenth century as evident from the magnificent, but limited, corpus of remaining works, including ewers, flasks and chess pieces. It was the abundant wealth of the Fatimid caliphs that permitted them to commission works of such refinement as the present chess piece.
A particularly close example to the present piece is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv. no. 669:1, 2-1883). Described as “probably a king", it also features a stylised, uneven, foliate design separated by an etched border. A further comparison should be made with two groups of rock crystal chess sets, notably a collection of ten from the famed Ager chess set, including two kings or viziers, two bishops, two knights, a rook and three pawns now in the Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait (inv. no. LNS I Has-j, and published in Jenkins 1983, p.60), as well as eight rock crystal chess pieces which are now in the Diocesan Museum in Orense, Spain.