Das Bernsteinschachspiel der Dukes of Atholl: An amber chess set for the Dukes of Atholl

Abstract

This magnificent amber box and board with chessmen is one of the most impressive amber art works dating from about 1700 in existence. The square carcass of the box, which is covered on all sides with amber panels of varying size and colour in brilliantly coloured marquetry, stands on four feet in the form of lions couchant. The edges are decorated with flat-cut pieces of cloudy amber as well as oval and lozenge-shaped transparent amber cabochons, which are backed with gold foil and enlivened with hollow-cut engraving. On the chessboard square fields of dark red, transparent amber alternate with fields of yellowish cloudy amber. The artist also used these two types of amber to distinguish the two sets of chessmen by colour. Usually they would be black and white but here they are designed in red and yellow. Harbour scenes, genre scenes, emblematic representations and all sorts of animals such as stags, hares and unicorns are depicted on the dark red cabochons and board fields. Small amber vases of fruit rise from the corners of the chessboard, emphasising the ceremonial appearance of the box. Two drawers at the sides of the box house the complete set of thirty-two chessmen, one drawer for each colour. The drawers pull out to reveal kings, queens, bishops, rooks, knights and pawns, each piece lying in one of sixteen compartments lined with blue silk.