"Charlemagne" Chess Set, 19th Century
South German
Likely Fruit-wood with Walnut

King is 5.3 cm, Rook 7.2 cm, Bishop 6.3 cm, Pawn 5.6 cm high

As with other South German sets of this period that depict Charlemagne as principal challenger, his likeness is said to be an homage to Albrecht Durer's early 16th century portrait of the emperor (although in nearly all the chess set renditions, Charlemagne holds his sword down). While the set is identified as "Charlemagne," the outfits of the pieces are not of the period. Usage of the name is in tribute to Charlemagne and the set is not intended to be an historically accurate scene from the 8th and 9th centuries. Other than Charlemagne himself, figures hold staffs, Knights as horses stand on their rear legs, and Rooks are carved towers.

A similar set can be seen in the Dresden Bank catalog of their 1988 Frankfurt exhibit on the culture, art and philosophy of chess. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, also has a set in their permanent collection which they identify as "an early German hero-king." In his 1985 book Chessmen for Collectors, Victor Keats writes extensively about Charlemagne sets, explaining, among other details, that the standing horse design is of Austrian origin.


Provenance: Jaeger Collection