Quinze pions de jeu d'échecs ayyoubides

A group of fifteen Ayyubid chess pieces, Probably Syria, 11th-12th century Yellow, green and blue molded glass flask with slight iridescence. D. at base 1.7 to 3.2 cm / H. 2.8 to 4.2 cm. As early as the eighth century, caliphal decrees banned the game of chess (whose pieces are usually depicted) for iconoclastic reasons. It is likely that abstract chess pieces, such as those shown here, replaced figurative ones in order to circumvent these decrees. Provenance : Public sale, France, collection of M. de Wilde (1929-2019). Bibliography: Published in R. de Wilde, Poids, Balances et Pions des Civilisations Anciennes, 2017, p. 230, reproduced on p. 257. Oeuvres comparables / Similar works : Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Chess Piece, Pawn, 8th-11th century, Accession Number: 67.151.4. et 1972.9.1 Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait, Inv. N°LNS 1438 G, Probably Egypt, 10th-12th century. Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait, Inv. N°LNS 1429 G, 1437 G, East Iranian region, 9th-11th century A group of fifteen Ayyubid chess pieces, Probably Syria, 11th-12th century As early as the eighth century, Caliphate decrees banned the game of chess (whose pieces are usually figurative) for iconoclastic reasons. It is likely that abstract chess pieces, like the ones shown here, replaced the figurative ones in order to circumvent these decrees.