The art of chess - Colleen Schafroth

Chess has fascinated people for centuries. There is evidence that a very similar game was played in the 6th and 7th centuries. It probably originated in India, spread to Persia, and thence to the Levant. By the 13th century that game was played all over the continent. The modern game dates from the 1400s. The story of this wonderful game is told by Colleen Schafroth, director of the Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, Washington, which owns a famous collection of chess pieces and sets. She tells her story in an easy and colorful style, illustrating it with pictures of historic and beautiful chess men from an international array of sources. There are pieces that were made in India and Russia, Bali and ancient Persia, Italy and Egypt, England and France. Both Napoleon and Nelson's ivory sets are illustrated. Besides the chess pieces themselves, there are exquisite objects and illuminated manuscripts and paintings depicting chess games in progress. This is a wonderful combination of text and pictures that will appeal to any chess player and to all dealers and collectors of chess pieces and related art.