A rare and visually arresting chess set combining two distinct historical aesthetics: mid-20th-century bronze chess pieces by renowned Greek sculptor Christoforus Sklavenitis, paired with a richly inlaid Victorian English chessboard from the late 19th century. The figures represent gods, warriors, animals, and mythic emblems of the Minoan civilization, one of Europe’s earliest advanced cultures, flourishing on Crete from 3500 to 1400 BCE. Sklavenitis, a student of Modigliani, renders each piece with abstract, expressive detail rooted in ancient form. The English chessboard, crafted circa 1870, features intricate parquetry and warm patina that contrast with the sculptural modernity of the bronze forms. Though distinct in origin, the pairing creates a compelling dialogue between antiquity and tradition, art and game in harmony.
Details:
Origin: Chess pieces – Greece; Chessboard – England Date: Chess pieces circa 1960; Chessboard circa 1870 Medium: Cast bronze (chessmen), inlaid wood (chessboard) Dimensions: – Chess pieces: 2 - 5.5 H x 1 - 4 W – Chessboard: 20.5 H x 20.5 W x 1 D
