GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This sculptural piece is a chess-game king in the form of an elephant carrying three riders. Like the silver-over-wood Mughal shrine and the inlaid ivory backgammon board [1995.77.A-GG and 2017.35.8], the piece reflects courtly Indian life under Mughal emperors. Made from precious ivory, an entire set of these figures would have been owned by a member of the landed elite with considerable leisure time. The elephant chess piece is ridden by a mahout (elephant handler) and two men ensconced in a boxlike platform. The men's beards and their turbans, which leave room for a bump of uncut hair, indicate that they are Sikhs, followers of a religion established in the 15th century that combines Muslim and Hindu beliefs. Sikhs are admonished from cutting their hair and hence have special turbans. Sikhs are also associated with martial skills, and their inclusion on this piece may invoke their abilities in combat and competition.
Adapted from
- Catherine B. Asher, "Chess piece" in The Arts of India, South East Asia, and the Himalayas, Anne R. Bromberg (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013), 122.
- Anne Bromberg, Label text, 2003.
NOTES
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
India (nation): TGN: 7000198
Punjab (general region): TGN: 7558524
Process/materials
ivory (material): AAT: 300011857
Historical periods
Mughal: AAT: 300018939
Individuals
Subject terms
beards: AAT: 300379263
chess (board games): AAT: 300222748
combat: AAT: 300379752
competitions (contests-events): AAT: 300054760
courts (social groups): AAT: 300236519
elephant (animals/elephantidae family): AAT: 300250160
game pieces (game elements): AAT: 300211101
games (activities): AAT: 300069657
leisure: AAT: 300138173
nobility (nobles / aristocracy): AAT: 300025942
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
Sikhism: AAT: 300157258
turbans: AAT: 300046127
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PROVENANCE
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VIDEO ASSETS
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WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 2017.35.2
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General Description
This sculptural piece is a chess-game king in the form of an elephant carrying three riders. Like the silver-over-wood Mughal shrine and the inlaid ivory backgammon board [1995.77.A-GG and 2017.35.8], the piece reflects courtly Indian life under Mughal emperors. Made from precious ivory, an entire set of these figures would have been owned by a member of the landed elite with considerable leisure time. The elephant chess piece is ridden by a mahout (elephant handler) and two men ensconced in a boxlike platform. The men's beards and their turbans, which leave room for a bump of uncut hair, indicate that they are Sikhs, followers of a religion established in the 15th century that combines Muslim and Hindu beliefs. Sikhs are admonished from cutting their hair and hence have special turbans. Sikhs are also associated with martial skills, and their inclusion on this piece may invoke their abilities in combat and competition.
Adapted from
- Catherine B. Asher, "Chess piece" in The Arts of India, South East Asia, and the Himalayas, Anne R. Bromberg (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013), 122.
- Anne Bromberg, Label text, 2003.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
India (nation): TGN: 7000198
Punjab (general region): TGN: 7558524
Process/materials
ivory (material): AAT: 300011857
Historical periods
Mughal: AAT: 300018939
Individuals
Subject terms
beards: AAT: 300379263
chess (board games): AAT: 300222748
combat: AAT: 300379752
competitions (contests-events): AAT: 300054760
courts (social groups): AAT: 300236519
elephant (animals/elephantidae family): AAT: 300250160
game pieces (game elements): AAT: 300211101
games (activities): AAT: 300069657
leisure: AAT: 300138173
nobility (nobles / aristocracy): AAT: 300025942
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
Sikhism: AAT: 300157258
turbans: AAT: 300046127
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
2017.35.2
source file
object_notes_1_d-0122.xml.nores