Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1976.8 |
Object Name |
Chess |
Title |
Chess Board |
Artist |
Unknown |
Place of Origin |
England |
Description |
Folding wood chess board with alternating black and white squares, checked black and white border. Folds in half down the middle. Back covered in red paper and with text in silver: "Chess & Draughts/Manufactured in England." Chess pieces (not original to the board) are 1976.7. |
Label |
This chess and draughts (checkers) board, likely manufactured in England in the 19th century, was given to be displayed with Benjamin Franklin’s chess pieces (1976.7) which are also in the APS collection. Chess is one of the oldest and most popular board games, appearing first in India around the 6th century. By the 10th century the game spread to the Middle East and Europe. Once reaching Europe, chess became popular with kings and nobility, thus becoming a “royal game.” Rules and set design became standardized in the 19th century, as a number of tournaments and international competitions set off a chess craze in the Western world. |
Dimensions |
W-17 L-17 inches |
Credit line |
American Philosophical Society. Gift of John F. Harbeson, January 1977. |
Search Terms |
19th century nineteenth century game Founding Father England |