7/31/2019 The CCI-USA NEWS, 2012 #1 http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-cci-usa-news-2012-1 1/20 THE CCI – USA NEWS Chess Collectors International Vol. 2012 Issue 1 IN THIS ISSUE French Playing Sets of the 18th and 19th Centuries Floyd and Bernice Sarisohn – A Lifetime of Fun and Games 40th Anniversary, Gift of State Chess Set, USA to Russia, May 1972 Chess Collectors International 15th Convention, Dresden Germany, June 11 – 17, 2012 “It’s Plastic”, “But It’s Very Old Plastic”
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
31, Larry List states that the 2011- 2012 Cloistersexhibition in NYC was "the first, and only, timethat the Lewis Chessmen visited America."
Actually the first time was in year 2000, when theSmithsonian Institution hosted an exhibition onthe Vikings at the National Museum of Natural
History in Washington DC. However, I recall only3 pieces were on exhibit there.
--Allan Savage
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/html/pdf/news00.pdf see page 3
It is also documented in this book http://www.norseamerica.com/catalog/item/4765859/5043695.htm
Here is the website for the Vikings exhibition,chessmen pictured on 1st pagehttp://www.mnh.si.edu/vikings/start.html
BOOK REVIEW
Art of Chess
9"x7", 28 pp. Softcover, on sale, limited time, $20
by Mark N. Taylor in Georgia Chess Magazine
We usually do not review self-published books, but
we are happy to make exceptions when somethingintriguing catches our attention. The unusual
panoramic format of this book neatly showcases 23
full-color chess-themed images by Atlanta artist
Lori Lejeune.
Lejeune brings a new angle to the old conundrum:is chess an art or science? Her art appears at theintersection of imagination and digital technology.Her glistening metallic or glass pieces are reflected
in shiny checkerboards, or glow with their own soft
unearthly light, while primordial clouds of galacticdust swirl in the background. Some boards are set
in western deserts. The four black-and-whiteimages at the end are some of the most striking,
capturing the textures and tones of chrome andmarble.
"I favor the use of 3-D software for my artwork,"Lejeune says. "Using software similar to the kind
used to create 3-D animated films, a composition or world is built and arranged within the virtualenvironment of the computer. The 3-D digital
process is a unique and time-intensive process that
can be thought of as a combination of sculpting and photography."
Lejeune does not simply use chess images in a
careless haphazard way, as is often the case in what passes for "chess art." Her works have titles such as
"Bad Bishop," "Nearly Surrounded," "Zugzwang,"
"Endgame: Lucena," and "Endgame:Philidor." Andthe images accurately illustrate these positions.Yet, Lejeune is not herself a chess player. "I'm
inspired by the game for representing life's choices
and challenges, victories and defeats."
Lejeune's artwork has been exhibited throughout
the US and collected by several corporate and private museums, such as the Museum of South
Texas, Mexic-Arte Museum, and the University of Texas Benson/Romo Collection. This December her work forms part of the invitation "1x1=One"
exhibit at HauStudio Gallery, NC. Also in
November, select pieces from her Body Languageseries will be on view at Swan Coach HouseGallery, Atlanta. Common Creative Magazine
named Lejeune one of "Atlanta's 50 Most Creative
People" for her work with digital art.
You can see more images of chess art and other series at her website, http://www.studiolejeune.net .Visit the link below to get your copy today! http://www.studiolejeune.net/artofchessbook.html
On The Cover:
GIFT OF STATE CHESS SET
USA to USSR, presented by President Richard Nixonon his State Visit to Russia, May 1972
Company: Cybis Porcelain
Material: Porcelain
Circa: 1972
Photo courtesy of The National Museum of American History,
The Smithsonian Institution
Do you have a picture you would like to see on the cover
of the Newsletter? If so, please send a high resolution,uncropped and clear photograph [email protected]. First priority will be given tothose pictures that accompany an article submitted for
publication - and used - within that particular issue. Everyeffort will be made to follow the principle of first come,first served, but the final decision will also depend onquality, subject matter, and other publication parametersthat may ultimately dictate what can best be used.
Many collectors feel attracted by thedesign of these sets, but so far little
has been published about them.
Michael Mark has pointed out thatwhere the knights are abstract the
bishops and knights have often been
confused1. I shall try to provide
some more information about this.
In French the bishop is called the
“fou2. In figurative sets this jester is
easy to identify3. It is more difficult
to do so in playing sets. The problem
starts because in these playing sets theturned bishops are smaller than the
knights. This is contrary to whattoday’s players and collectors are
used to.
In addition, many illustrations of
chessmen in contemporary French books show the pieces in order of size, as in Illustration A.
Consequently, the taller knight is shown next tothe queen. This has misled people outside Francewhere the pieces were not identified in a caption.
1Mark, Chessmen Practical and Ornamental, Ch “France”, footnote
2. The footnote contains two errors: Diderot is referred to as “Didier”.And the illustration in Murray is at p. 772, not 272.2 See as to the history of Ie fou, Murray, A History of Chess, pp. 707,780.3 See for example Mark, illustration 19, and Wichmann, Schoch, plate
150.
Thus in an in English book published in 1797
French pieces which were illustrated wereincorrectly identified – see Illustration B.
The most reliable source to identify the bishop andknight is the French Encyclopedie of Diderot &
d’Alembert. This “giantshowcase of all branches of
intellectual activity”, to quote the Encyclopedia Britannica, was
published in 28 volumes between1751 and 1772, beingsupplemented in 1776-77 by 5
further volumes, and in 1780 by
2 volumes of indices.
In 1782 publication of a new,
enlarged edition was begun under the title Encyclopedie
Methodique ou par ordre dematieres. The work, which filled
201 volumes, continued throughthe French Revolution and was completed in 1832.
Illustration C is from the first edition. The Indexto this plate says:
In Illustration A, published in 1799, the pieces arenot identified by captions, but the piece next to the
queen is the knight, while the piece next to the
rook is the bishop. This positioning according to
size, with the bishop next to the rook can also beseen in Elemens Theorique et pratiques du leu des
Echets, published by Hocquart in 1810 – see
Illustration D4.
I now ask you to look at the photograph of sets on
the following page. Set 1, at the bottom left handside of the Illustration, is very similar to the sets inIllustration A and B, but the queen has its top disc
serrated to avoid confusion with the bishop, whichis to her left in the photo, or with the knight, which
is to the right of the king.
Set 2 is very similar, but the top of the queen is notserrated. Instead the top disc of the bishop has beencut to forma point to make it more easily
distinguishable. Set 3 is a set similar to that inIllustration C in its general design. Here again the
4 So far I have not succeeded in finding the illustration of Frenchchessmen in the 1792 edition of the Encyclapedie Methodique
reproduced by Murray at p. 772, and by several subsequent authors.
bishops have symmetrical cut
offs following the design inIllustration C and similar tothose in set 2.
In set 4, the tall knight iseasily identified by his plumed
helmet.
Looking at set 5, the firstimpression you get is of aclassical type of the so-called
Lyons set (I hope one of our French friends will give us
proof that these sets were in
fact produced in Lyons). Thiswooden set with bone
decoration probably datesfrom the 18th
century. Here itis obvious that the knight can
only be the piece with the
horse’s head.
But the reason it is obvious is probably that somebody tired
of the confusion caused bytwo abstract pieces and solved the problem by
replacing the top of one of them with a horse’shead. For if you look closely at the horse’s head,you can see that it is a little different in colour and
in the structure of the material itself compared withthe base parts of these chessmen. In this set it is not
possible to say with certainty whether the pieceswith the horses’ heads were originally the bishopsor the knights.
Set 6 was treated in the same way. Here also thehorses’ heads are slightly different in colour and
material. A former owner of the set 056 in thecatalogue of the Jaeger collection
5has tried to
distinguish more easily between the bishops and theknights by making asymmetric cuts to the top discs
of the bishops to distinguish them from the knights.
In other sets, such as sets 2 and 3, such cuts werefrequently made by the turners making the sets.
Sets 7 and 8 are 19th
century with horses’ heads for knights. Set 9 is also a Lyons type set of the 19
th
century but with different bone decoration aroundthe bellies of the king and queen. Sets of this kind
Herzogovina or Mexico, but without any goodreason. Copies of these sets may well have been
made in many different parts of the world, but the
original design is undoubtedly French.
Set 10 appears at first sight to be French, but the bishops and knights are typically of the old Englishstyle. The set was probably made for the English
market, or perhaps in England for the French
market.
To conclude, I want to draw your attention to theshape of the pawns in many French playing sets. It
is obvious that turners and craftsmena t this time
were interested in giving even their pawns soul and
expression. For collectors this in one more reasonto fall in love with these sets. I very much hope
that we will get more information in future from our
French friends about these sets and their history.~Franz Joseph Lang
Floyd and Bernice Sarisohn – A Lifetime of Fun and GamesFrom Smithtown Matters, April 25, 2012 By Chad Kushins
Bernice & Floyd Sarisohn (photos by Jennifer M. Klei)
When Floyd Sarisohn expects company at his
home, he and wife Bernice raise the red flag.
It’s not a warning but, rather, a sign that visitorshave found the right house, the location of one of
the largest and most eclectic chess collections in
the country; the flag, once momentarily restedagainst the wind, vividly displays three chess
pieces, ushering the inquisitive into the Sarisohn’sconverted garage – the entrance to the makeshiftmuseum.
In anticipation of a visit, the Commack couplegreets their visitors with proper attire: Floyd, a
retired district court judge who still maintains his
private law practice, in a playful necktie showing,like the outside flag, chess pieces fitting into thedesign. Bernice wears both a light jacket with the
patterns of a checkered chessboard and a gracious
smile. They’re always proud to share their renowned private collection and the stories that
come with each set; the storytelling, according to
Floyd, is an important part of the collection itself,and the experience of being granted a by-invitationonly visit.
“Each set comes with a history all it’s own,” he
says, ushering guests through the converted foyer, adazzling introduction to the hundreds of chess sets
on display. “And every set that we’ve collectedcomes with our own story about how we got it.”The first thing that comes to mind, seeing the initial
three walls adorned, top to bottom, with all sizesand shapes of little chessmen, carefully arranged behind the shimmering glass of the professionaldisplay cases one would expect in a china shop – is
that when Floyd tells you for the first time, “We
have a pretty big collection,” he wasn’t kidding. In person, smiling with pride, he says, “Take a look
around first, then you can ask about any of the setsyou like – and please feel free to take photos.
Floyd and Bernice Sarisohn – A Lifetime of Fun and Games 9
says Floyd, still amused at how close thecommissioned piece came to landing in a sitting
President’s hands.
“Our shared favorite, though,” says Floyd, “is the
large one downstairs – the one in the middle of theroom.” Indeed, once entering the basement, anyvisitor would first see an antique chess table, the
board itself under glass, an air of an actual artifact
in their midst. This set, the Sarisohns’ most beloved piece in the collection, one made of Danish porcelain and made in Copenhagen, depicts the
Moors against the Saracens. “It may be spelled
differently,” Floyd says, “but I can’t help lovingthat it has our name.”
Over the years, the Sarisohns’ collection has drawnthem tons of accolades and admirers, particularlywithin the chess world and among fellow
collectors. Always looking to add new additions to
their home, they’ve sold and traded certain sets for new ones. “The internet literally opened up a new
world of possibilities,” says Floyd. Currently, the
Sarisohns’ home contains approximately 900 setson display; all told, they’ve acquired just under
2,000 sets total. “It may not be the biggest in the
world,” he adds, “but it’s definitely one of the
biggest in the country.”At one time, the couple even investigated the
possibility of having their home declared as a
recognized museum – something that may very
well happen in the future. For now, however, theystill enjoy the chance to have visitors from all over the world come and see the shared passion that has
added so much fun to their marriage for so many
years.
And not all museums have the personal touch of
being formally walked out and back to your car once the visit is over – and a sincere thank you for your interest.
“Oh,” says Floyd, before returning back inside, “Ialmost forgot.”
plastic! Rather, it is likely one of the most limitedchess designs ever produced, and its sets weremade of porcelain, a very traditional and respected
material. Many collectors probably already realize
the chess set I must be talking about is the Gift of
State chess set made by Cybis Porcelain and presented to the USSR as a gift from the USA byPresident Nixon on his state visit in May 1972.Therefore, May of this year marks the 40th
Anniversary of the set’s presentation to Russia, so
it seemed fitting for this article to now mark thatoccasion.
As mentioned, the set may very well be one of themost limited editions of a chess design ever. Of theoriginal production, the original was presented to
Russia, the second was given to the Smithsonian
Institution, and only ten other sets were produced – and sold. It is known that at least one of those tensets has had pieces lost and/or damaged. The fate
of the other nine is currently unknown.
In April, 1973, seemingly timed for the issue to
appear in subscribers’ mailboxes on or near the
first year anniversary of its original presentation toRussia, Chess Review and Life magazine containedan article on the chess set and described it in detail.
The article is shown above in its entirety.
Interestingly, for some unknown reason, the bishopwas never pictured.
As noted in the Chess Review article, the colors
chosen for both the set intended for Russia and theset going to the Smithsonian were turquoise and
burgundy. While the article notes that another ten
sets were made to sell, it makes no mention of thecolors used when making those sets. However,Floyd Sarisohn owned set number 5 of the ten
made and its colors were blue and green, whichwould seem to indicate only the first two original
sets were done using the turquoise and burgundy
colors.
Years later, Cybis released a Hall of Fame editionof the set. The colors of that edition also appear to
have been blue and green. According to Floyd
Sarisohn, this second edition came with gold and platinum painting rather than the coloration found
on the original sets. It has not yet been possible toestablish the number of sets that were made as part
of the Hall of Fame edition. I have tried contacting
Cybis several times in an effort to get some kind of
confirmation on the colors used and the number of sets released, but so far the company has beentotally unresponsive.
“We see a plumed knight in armor with visored helmet, golden sword and full-panoplied horse. The rook is a crenelated stone tower with a page peering from the top and a court lady
in cowled headdress framed in a turret below.”
“The dignity of the bishop is personified by a psalter in his right hand and in his left a golden crozier. The pawn is a medieval bowman. He wears a falconembroidered on his jerkin and carries a bow and aquiver of arrows slung around his hips.”
(photos courtesy of The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian Institution)
“The king and queen are robed in Byzantine splendor. The queen holds a hooded falcon’ the folds of her gown gently caress her figure as she sits with her head bowed in shy repose. Theearded king is attentively erect as though aware of some ambush that might befall him ahead.”
“American curly maple and curly black walnut alternate in the squares of the nearly three foot square board. The maple is from a tree more than 200 years old, from Montgomery County,
Pennsylvania. The black walnut came from adjoining Bucks County.”
The future and quality of this publication depends on your contributions. Send us your comments,notes, reports, articles, photos, stories, etc. Electronic form will help us bring it to print in a timely
manner and at reduced cost. Thanks to all who contributed to this issue.
CCI-NEWS was made possible thanks to volunteer work of all persons involved. We are not
responsible for contents of articles, the performance of advertisers, the delivery or quality of their
services or products, or the legality of any particular program or publication.