Chessmen (32)
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
Height (each king): 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm); Height (each queen): 6 1/16 in. (15.4 cm); Height (each bishop): 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm); Height (each knight): 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm); Height (each rook): 4 in. (10.2 cm); Height (each pawn): 3 in. (7.6 cm)
Classification
Chess Sets
Culture
Indian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Gustavus A. Pfeiffer, 1948
Accession Number
48.174.37a–p, aa–pp
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite set of 32 ivorymen, crafted by an unknown Indian artist in the 18th–19th century, exemplifies the artistry of South Asian carving traditions. Carved from elephant ivory—a prized medium known for its smooth texture and ability to hold fine details—the pieces follow the classic chess hierarchy: kings stand tallest at 6¾ inches (17.1 cm), queens at 6⅛ inches (15.4 cm), down to pawns at 3 inches (7.6 cm). Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of European Sculpture and Decor Arts, this set was a generous gift from Gustavus A. Pfeiffer in 1948. Chess, or chaturanga in...