Description:

Lot 236. A MEDIEVAL ALABASTER CHESS PIECE, 13TH CENTURY OR LATER

This fascinating alabaster chess piece, dating to the 13th century or slightly later, represents a rare survival from the medieval period, when chess was a game of nobility and intellectual refinement across Europe and the Islamic world.

Carved from a single block of creamy alabaster, the piece retains traces of the hand-tool marks and decorative incisions that once defined its form. The surface displays natural weathering and porosity typical of aged alabaster, enhancing its sense of antiquity. The lower register bears a simple border of interlocking circles, while the upper section is subtly rounded, possibly suggesting a rook or bishop form.

Its tactile form and compact scale align closely with medieval chess pieces excavated across Northern Europe and the Levant, many of which were similarly undecorated save for incised geometric motifs.

Height: 6 cm

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November 7, 2025 1:00 PM GMT
London, United Kingdom

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