Chess set

Unknown

20th century · Limba wood, goatskin, cotton · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

The kings and queens are similar, the kings being distinguished by a "robe" of blue striped cotton. The pieces show strong Islamic influence, which is to be expected as the people of Bornu Province are in the main Muslims. There had been contact between Islam and Nigeria for many centuries. Nigeria was visited by the famous traveler Ibn Batuta, who was born in Tangiers in the fourteenth century. The long ears of the rook are an exaggeration of the early form. Interestingly, these long ears also appear on conventional pieces from Scandinavia to which a fourteenth-century date has been assigned. The form of the pawns goes back to early Muslim times also. There is a goatskin board that came with the set, with squares demarcated by incised lines and dyed alternately cream and dark tan; it is slotted at the corners to allow it to be tied down.

Artist

Unknown

Date

20th century

Medium

Limba wood, goatskin, cotton

Culture

Nigerian

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Gustavus A. Pfeiffer, 1948