Chess Before the 20th Century

The pieces are so abstract that none can be identified without hints. All were made using the technique of medieval Persian chess — shatranj, as they called the game in the Arab East. The heyday of shatranj in the East began in the 10th–11th centuries, when the first recognized masters, like Al-Suli, made history.

The celebrated poet Omar Khayyam (1048–1131) described life through chess:
'Tis all a Chequer-board of Nights and Days
Where Destiny with Men for Pieces plays:
Hither and thither moves, and mates, and slays,
And one by one back in the Closet lays.

Having changed hands multiple times, most of these pieces are now in the British Museum. Nearly three complete chess sets (along with individual pieces) have survived to this day, giving us insight into the 12th-century chess culture, when mastering the game was essential for every knight, and showcasing the advanced techniques used in chess-making.

Art historians believe that the walrus tusk chess set arrived in Scotland from Norway, which explains its alternative name, the “Viking chess set.” However, skeptics raise many questions, such as why the set includes the bishop, a piece not known in chess until the 14th century.

Duke Augustus was one of the most well-read and educated European rulers of his time. The famous Bibliotheca Augusta in Wolffenbüttel is named after him. As a young prince, Augustus was introduced to the game during his travels to Italy and purchased numerous chess books from the Augsburg merchant and art collector Philipp Hainhofer before writing his own.

Philidor's book "Analyse du jeu des Échecs" was first published in 1749 and was considered a standard chess manual for at least a century. In it, Philidor analyzed nine different types of game openings. Most of the openings of Philidor are designed to strengthen and establish a strong defensive center using pawns. He is the first one to realize the new role of the pawn in the chess game, and his most famous advice was the saying "The pawns are the soul of chess."

While cattle bones are not as suitable for fine crafting as elephant ivory, they still allowed for the creation of good pieces with key characteristics. The name “Barleycorn” comes from the pieces’ design, which includes elements resembling barley grains. The king and queen are decorated with barley heads or leaves.

The clock is built on a heavy wrought iron rectangular base that provides stability. Above the base, a wrought iron rocker supports two twin clocks made of chromed metal. The pendulums below the clocks act as the driving mechanism; the clock that appears horizontally is the one in operation. When a player makes a move, they tilt their clock to stop it, simultaneously setting their opponent's clock to horizontal, starting its pendulum.

Fattorini & Sons was a jewelry business established by Italian immigrant Antonio Fattorini, who arrived in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, in 1827. Antonio set up outlets specializing in jewelry, watches, and other luxury items. The Fattorini & Sons chess clock was extensively used in tournaments and chess championships in the United Kingdom, especially in the 1890s.