Auction Watch

From Sotheby's, an auction held October 8, 2008. Arts of the Islamic World Sale: L08222 Location: London Auction Dates: Session 1: Wed, 08 Oct 08 10:00 AM LOT 84 AN IVORY CHESS PIECE, EGYPT OR SYRIA, 10TH-11TH CENTURY8,000—12,000 GBPLot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 17,500 GBP MEASUREMENTS measurements note4.5cm. height 4cm. diam. DESCRIPTION Of solid cylindrical form with rounded edges, one half of the top with a flat surface in keeping with the shape of the base, the other side split by the central raised boss, curves down each side, two large cruciform motifs incised on both the front and back, similar dot motif clusters on either side placed above the three band indentation wrapping around the object, drilled concentric circles to the base CATALOGUE NOTE This abstract form is an impressive example of a group of ivory chessmen with decorative patterns carved into the surface. Existent in the early Islamic centuries, this form has traditionally been associated with the arrival of the game from India. However it seems likely that both figural and abstract forms were already in use prior to this. This piece is a symbolic representation of both the 'King' and the throne which is demonstrated by the form of the chess piece. (Emphasis added) A related piece was sold in these rooms on 30th April 1998, lot 1. Closely comparable ivory pieces can be found at the British Museum (A. Contadini: 'Islamic Ivory Chess Pieces, Draughtsman and Dice' in Islamic Art in the Ashmolean Museum, ed. James Allan, Oxford, 1995, Part Im pp.111-154). Two more were excavated at Aachen in 1925 and are discussed with other examples by Manfred Eder (Bagdad-Bergkristall-Bernedictiner Zum Ex-orient des Schachspiels, Aachen, 2203 esp.pp.36-36 and 76-77). Further ivory pieces are exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum, Boston Museum of Fine Arts and a larger version was sold at Christie's, 11 April 2000. A similar 'King' can also be found in the Museum für Islamische Kunst, Berlin (Ernst Kühnel, Die Islamische Elfenbeinskupturen, Berlin, 1971, no.9, pl.V) Kühnel dates that piece to the eight or ninth century and attributes it to Egypt.