Chessmen (32)

Unknown

ca. 1930 · Wood · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

The set is nonfigural but for the horse-head knights. European influence is shown in the rooks in that they are towers with crenelations. The king, queen, and pawns are in the typical modern Muslim tradition, and the painted decoration is entirely Persian in style. There are lead weights in the base to give the pieces greater stability.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1930

Medium

Wood

Culture

Persian, Tehran

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Gustavus A. Pfeiffer, 1948