- 97
Two large 'King' chess pieces, Persia and Near East, 9th-12th century
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
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Description
- ivory and clay
one chess piece composed of ivory with carved zig-zag bands, old collection label to underside, the clay piece with fluted edges
Provenance
Ex-Collection Lothar Schmid (1928-2013)
Literature
The ivory one published in:
W. Seipel, Spielwelten der Kunst. Kunstkammer spiele (exh. cat.), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, 21 May - 2 August, 1998, pp.110-1, cat. no.35.
J. Petzold, Das königliche Spiel. Die Kulturgeschichte des Schachs, Stuttgart – Leipzig 1987, Abb. 7 a.
H. Höllander, ‘“Abstrahiert” und “Abstrakt”. Zur Deutung der sogenannten arabisch-islamischen Schachfiguren’, in: Ausst.-Kat. Wiesbaden, 1997, 37ff.
W. Seipel, Spielwelten der Kunst. Kunstkammer spiele (exh. cat.), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, 21 May - 2 August, 1998, pp.110-1, cat. no.35.
J. Petzold, Das königliche Spiel. Die Kulturgeschichte des Schachs, Stuttgart – Leipzig 1987, Abb. 7 a.
H. Höllander, ‘“Abstrahiert” und “Abstrakt”. Zur Deutung der sogenannten arabisch-islamischen Schachfiguren’, in: Ausst.-Kat. Wiesbaden, 1997, 37ff.
Condition
The ivory chess piece with old hairline cracks, vertical small drill hole through body, there appears to have once been a break down the centre with old restoration, the clay chess piece with chips along extremities, some old encrustation, in both cases, wear consistent with age, 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
These two pieces, probably kings as demonstrated by their ‘throne-like’ form, represent impressive and large examples of the abstract form of carved ivory and clay chessmen. This shape would have also most probably existed in a variety of other mediums, including gold and silver, as mentioned in The Book of Gifts and Rarities, which describes a number of objects from the Fatimid palace treasuries (see Rosser-Owen 2004, p.22).