Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Chess Rook
(Medieval Europe )
In medieval Scandinavia, the chess rook took the form of a watchman with his back to a fence instead of a medieval castle watchtower. In this example, the watchman blows his horn to signal trouble, holds a sword, and is accompanied at either side by two smaller military figures with shields. It bears the signature "H" on its base. Six other examples from the same workshop have survived, including a king, a queen and three rooks, now in collections in Paris (Musée National du Moyen Age), London (British Museum), and Copenhagen (Royal Collection).
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
[Found in London, on the edge of the Thames at Puddle Dock, Blackfriars, 1962]; Sale, London, Sotheby's, April 9, 1973, lot 14; Mrs. John Hunt, Dublin, Ireland; Walters Art Museum, 1977, by purchase with gifts donated to the Ross fund.
Geographies
Scandinavia
(Place of Origin)
United Kingdom, England, London (Place of Discovery)
Measurements
2 7/16 x 1 3/4 in. (6.2 x 4.4 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase with gifts donated to the Ross Fund in memory of Marvin C. Ross, 1977
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
71.1157