Rodchenko Chess Table

This chess table, crafted by the renowned Russian and Soviet artist Alexander Rodchenko, stands as a testament to the principles of constructivism. It was built for the Soviet Pavilion at the Paris World's Fair of 1925. Rodchenko’s vision was clear: to create an optimal space for self-education and cultural leisure, with chess at its heart.

Guided by practical considerations rather than mere aesthetics, Rodchenko designed the chessboard tabletop to be horizontally rotatable. This ingenious feature allowed players to change their color at the start of each new game without needing to rise from their seats. The two chairs had armrests and rectangular backs made of four parallel vertical boards with a straight upper rail. These chairs were securely anchored to rectangular footings, precisely aligned beneath the center of the chess table.