Reflections by Dr Lyndon Bouah – Chess Sets

I have always been fascinated by chess sets. At my high school when we played home games our

chess teacher, Mr John Ritchie, would produce the wooden board for board one. It is rumoured that

that the board never lost for ten years! I can testify that in the three years I was entrusted with the

responsibility of board one for Bethelsdorp High School in Port Elizabeth ( now Nelson Mandela Bay),

I won every game I played on it. We used to play and practice on Staunton chess sets.

Chess sets have been in vogue for centuries as ornaments or as gifts. Those of you who watch

television will know that in Bold and Beautiful, the villain always had a chess set on hand when he

was plotting his next move. When statesmen visit each other chessboards are invariably exchanged.

Presidents Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma exchanged chess sets with the Prime Ministers of Britain

and the President of Russia.

The author Ned Mungur in Cultures, Chess and Art ( 1996, Volume 1, Quality books p11) states that

he agrees with the theory that chess originated in the Middle East rather than India. He states that

Omani chess set which was discovered in 1993 has been dated to more than 1000 years old. In

Moscow, Professor Izak Linder has found chess pieces in the old Russian city of Novogorod. The most

spectacular ancient chess pieces he opines, are the Charlemagne pieces at Bibliotheque Nationale in

Paris. The ivory set was produced in about the 11th century in Southern Italy. They represent the first

European portrayal of humans in chess pieces.

I own a number of different chess sets which I will through a series of articles share with you.I

bought the first chess set in Baku, Azerbaijan at the Olympiad in September 2016. The pieces are

exquisitely hand carved and the board is spectacular as well. The pieces remind me of the chess sets

I played with in Hungary. My friend IM Watu Kobese used to tell me that you must first get used to

the pieces when you play in Europe.

Azerbaijan Chess Set

Azerbaijan Chess Set

In January 2017 I spent a month in India receiving further training and understanding of governemnt

and world affairs. I spent the time in Hyderabad. In one of our off days we visited the Chowmalla

Palace which was built by the Nizams who were the rulers. At the Palace I found this chess set which

I immediately bought for my collection. India is of course also a possible source of origin for chess.

One must appreciate the care that has gone into the design texture of the chess set. The elaborate

carvings are testimony to the care that the designer has put into the chess set.

Indian Chess Set

Indian Chess Set – Black pieces

Indian Chess Set – White pieces

Turkey of course has many chess sets. When I visited Turkey with my friend IM Johannes Mabusela,

we negotiated the purchase of chess sets in the Grand Bazaar. The Turks, who are of course at the

cross roads of two continents, has some fantastic chess sets and i could decide which one to

purchase.

Turkish Chess Set

Turkish Chess Set – Black pieces

Turkish Chess Set – White pieces

One cannot visit Russia without purchasing a chess set. I purchased a number of them and notice the

floral designs and of course it is red! There are many chess sets that have been designed with love

and care that can be found in Moscow in most souvenir stores.

Russian Chess Set

Russian Chess Set – White pieces

Russian Chess Set – Black pieces

In July 2013 I visited the Chinese province of Shandong and on my free day I went souvenir shopping

and found this fascinating chess set. The rook looks like a traditional Chinese house and of course the

pawns were made with the necessary detail to appear as individuals.

Chinese Chess Set

Chinese Chess Set – White pieces

Chinese Chess Set – Black pieces

Regards

Dr Lyndon Bouah