Chess Pieces

Currently not on view

Chess Pieces

1889

Émile Gallé (French, 1846–1904)

In this whimsical set Western characters in clear glass oppose Asian figures in smoke-colored glass. As with many of Emile Gallé’s glass vases, the chess pieces are inscribed with quotations from poetry and prose. The figure of the Asian queen, for example, bears the phrase la dame noire et doulereuse (the lady dark and aching). This chess set was exhibited along with a purpose-built table at the 1889 L’Exposition Universelle (world’s fair) in Paris.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Chess Pieces

Date:

1889

Artist:

Émile Gallé (French, 1846–1904)

Medium:

Glass

Dimensions:

King (clear glass): 3 7/8 x 1 5/8 inches (9.8 x 4.1 cm) Queen (clear glass): 3 7/8 x 1 1/2 inches (9.8 x 3.8 cm) Bishop (clear glass): 3 1/4 x 1 5/16 inches (8.3 x 3.3 cm) Knight (clear glass): 3 1/2 x 1 9/16 inches (8.9 x 4 cm) Rook (clear glass): 3 x 1 5/16 inches (7.6 x 3.3 cm) Pawn (clear glass): 2 1/8 x 1 1/8 inches (5.4 x 2.9 cm) King (smoke-colored glass): 4 x 1 9/16 inches (10.2 x 4 cm) Queen (smoke-colored glass): 3 3/4 x 1 9/16 inches (9.5 x 4 cm) Bishop (smoke-colored glass): 2 7/8 x 1 5/16 inches (7.3 x 3.3 cm) Knight (smoke-colored glass): 3 3/4 x 1 7/16 inches (9.5 x 3.7 cm) Rook (smoke-colored glass): 3 x 1 1/4 inches (7.6 x 3.2 cm) Pawn (smoke-colored glass): 2 3/16 x 1 1/8 inches (5.6 x 2.9 cm)

Classification:

Toys (including dolls, games, puppets)

Credit Line:

Gift of John F. Harbeson, 1964

Accession Number:

1964-91-27(1--32)

Geography:

Made in France, Europe

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Currently not on view