Queen, ivory, 12th century.
Item
Title
Queen, ivory, 12th century.
Description
Long alleged to have been a gift to Charlemange from Harun al-Rashid, the “Charlemagne” chessmen are actually dated to the 12th century, likely manufactured in Italy. The presence of a queen is one of the ancient set’s most unique features. Other pieces that would later be transformed in Europe, such as the bishop and castle-shaped rook, remained as elephants and chariots. Even the queen’s arrival was not instant, however: the first mention of the queen comes in the 10th century but some, such as Geoffrey Chaucer, refer to the piece as a Fers as late as 1369.
Rights
Charlemagne Chessmen. Holding Institution: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris. Image courtesy of user Siren-Com via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0.
Source
Charlemagne Chessmen. 12th century. Ivory.
