A fabulous and rare carved bone Islamic chess piece, probably a rook or ruhk from Granada, al-Andalus dating between the 13th and 15th century, c 1250-1450. It has a natural two-tone pigmentation of red-purple fading to cream and bands of beaded 'eye' motif. A similar example can be found in the Museo de la Alhambra in the Nasrid palace.
Details
The dot and circle or beaded 'eye' motif is one of the oldest decorations present on Islamic chess pieces, making its appearance as early as the 8th century, as testified by a series of chess and gaming pieces in the al-Sabah Collection (Deborah Freeman Fahid, Chess and other Games Pieces from Islamic Lands, 2018, cats. 11, 22, and 36).
Provenance: Previously Henri René d’Allemagne (1836-1950) collection 1979.
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