Chessmen (32)

Unknown

late 18th–19th century · Bone · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

The same general facial characteristics appear on the white king, queen, and fou, and—most consistently—on the pawns, who are said to represent the Chevalier de Boufflers (1736–1815), governor of Senegal from 1785 to 1788. The animal heads of the knights resemble camels rather than horses and have half-figures riding as though at the base of the curving neck. The other principal pieces are similar on the two sides, except for the earrings and cropped hair on the African side. The rooks are incised and cut to suggest brickwork and crenelations. They and the stands are possibly of French manufacture, added to imported carved pieces made to order from a French model.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 18th–19th century

Medium

Bone

Culture

French, Dieppe

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Gustavus A. Pfeiffer, 1948