Chess Piece
late 9th century-early 10th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This piece of rock crystal is carved as a chess piece, probably a king. In the Middle East the king originally showed the monarch riding on an elephant in full state. However, the shape soon became highly stylised, and its main distinguishing feature is its lack of symmetry front and back. This piece has a low, plain, recessed oval base. The main body has a rounded top and has been carved as three separate elements. A high band with a decorated upper surface separates two faces that curve outwards. The front shows a pair of birds confronting one another. They make a pattern that looks a little like an elephant's face. The back is much lower and is decorated with a pattern of leafy scrolls. It was damaged when a hole was drilled in the top. This may have happened when the king was re-used as a reliquary (a container for holy relics) in a Christian context. At some stage it was fitted with a tiny crystal finial in the shape of a lopped tree (not shown).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Rock crystal, carved |
| Brief description | King or Bishop; Rock crystal Egyptian 10thC finial part of a chess piece; Crystal |
| Physical description | Rock crystal chess piece cut in form of two unequal lobes, curved at one end and flat at the other. The piece has a hole on top of the protuberance and was probably used as a reliquary. It is carved with the representation of two birds confronting one another, a band diapered with crosses and opposed scrolls. From the smaller lobe arises a pointed stem with projections resembling the stem of a lopped tree. On top of the object, there is a small hole about 0.5 cm deep. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Object history | Originally thought to be a Byzantine object. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This piece of rock crystal is carved as a chess piece, probably a king. In the Middle East the king originally showed the monarch riding on an elephant in full state. However, the shape soon became highly stylised, and its main distinguishing feature is its lack of symmetry front and back. This piece has a low, plain, recessed oval base. The main body has a rounded top and has been carved as three separate elements. A high band with a decorated upper surface separates two faces that curve outwards. The front shows a pair of birds confronting one another. They make a pattern that looks a little like an elephant's face. The back is much lower and is decorated with a pattern of leafy scrolls. It was damaged when a hole was drilled in the top. This may have happened when the king was re-used as a reliquary (a container for holy relics) in a Christian context. At some stage it was fitted with a tiny crystal finial in the shape of a lopped tree (not shown). |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 669:1, 2-1883 |
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| Record created | February 24, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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