Chess Atlas

Chess Atlas documents the evolution of chess piece design across 1,300 years and six materials—from the oldest surviving ivory and bone pieces dating to around 700 AD through modern metal designs. The collection traces chess aesthetics from abstract medieval forms like the Afrasiab Chessmen through standardized designs such as the iconic 1849 Staunton set, to modernist interpretations by artists like Man Ray and designs associated with famous players like Bobby Fischer. The materials used—ivory, wood, ceramic, porcelain, and metal—reflect shifts from royal courts to mass standardization to contemporary artistic expression.