Rock Crystal Chess Set and Board

Designed to dazzle either by candlelight or by sunlight, the Rock Crystal Chess Set and Board of 1525 is the only complete set of its style and type extant. Mounted in silver and gilt bases and topped with hand-wrought crowns, horse' heads and caps, the hand-cut, contoured and polished natural crystal "bodies" of the pieces are faceted to reflect and refract light in all directions as are the alternating clear and smoky quartz squares of the board, each underlaid with reflective silver and gold foil.