Philadelphia Museum of Art - Collections Object : Napoleon and Henri IV Chess Pieces

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	3 Classification Curatorial Country of Origin

European Decorative Arts and Sculpture

"Napoleon and Henri IV" Chess Pieces

Made in France, Europe

Early 19th century

Artist/maker unknown, French

Ivory
King (red): 4 1/2 inches (11.4 cm) Queen (red): 4 1/8 inches (10.5 cm) Rook (red): 4 inches (10.2 cm) Bishop (red): 3 1/4 inches (8.3 cm) Knight (red): 3 1/4 inches (8.3 cm) Pawn (red): 2 3/4 inches (7 cm) King (green): 4 1/2 inches (11.4 cm) Queen (green): 3 7/8 inches (9.8 cm) Rook (green): 4 inches (10.2 cm) Bishop (green): 3 3/8 inches (8.6 cm) Knight (green): 3 3/8 inches (8.6 cm) Pawn (green): 2 5/8 inches (6.7 cm)

Currently not on view

1964-91-26(1--32)

Gift of John F. Harbeson, 1964

Label

In the early nineteenth century French emperor Napoléon Bonaparte (1769–1821) was a popular subject for chess sets, appearing opposite a variety of historical figures. Here, the king and queen are represented on one side by Napoléon (in his familiar tricorne) and his wife Joséphine, and on the opposing side by the earlier French ruler King Henri IV (1553–1610) and his wife Marie de’ Medici. As is often the case in French sets, the bishop is replaced by a jester.

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