A FATIMID ROCK CRYSTAL CHESS PIECE, EGYPT, 11TH CENTURY A FATIMID ROCK CRYSTAL CHESS PIECE, EGYPT, 11TH CENTURY A FATIMID ROCK CRYSTAL CHESS PIECE, EGYPT, 11TH CENTURY A FATIMID ROCK CRYSTAL CHESS PIECE, EGYPT, 11TH CENTURY A FATIMID ROCK CRYSTAL CHESS PIECE, EGYPT, 11TH CENTURY A FATIMID ROCK CRYSTAL CHESS PIECE, EGYPT, 11TH CENTURY A FATIMID ROCK CRYSTAL CHESS PIECE, EGYPT, 11TH CENTURY A FATIMID ROCK CRYSTAL CHESS PIECE, EGYPT, 11TH CENTURY

A FATIMID ROCK CRYSTAL CHESS PIECE, EGYPT, 11TH CENTURY

Reference: ART3004094

The rock crystal of domed cylindrical form, carved with deep bevel-cut foliate designs and incised dash details.
7 by 5 cm.

PROVENANCE
Private collection, Belgium.

CATALOGUE NOTE
The Fatimids mastered the carving of rock crystal in the tenth century, owing to their Caliphs’ abundant wealth which provided the means to commission such refined works. An impressive, although limited, corpus of remaining works which include ewers, flasks and chess pieces exhibits the exemplary skill of Fatimid craftsmen. This king or queen demonstrates both their affluence and the superior position they granted to the game of chess at this time.
The present lot is a rare example of Fatimid rock crystal carving and an interesting addition to the existing corpus of rock crystal gaming pieces of the period. The game of chess, which can be traced back through archaeological evidence to the second or third century, spread from the Indian subcontinent through Persia to centres such as Baghdad and Cairo, from where the present chess piece most probably originates. It can be attributed either to the Abbasid or Fatimid Caliphates as it shares a number of stylistic and technical features with examples of similar gaming pieces now in various museum collections.