Chess Gustavus Selenus

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The model can be scaled down to fit the map of Gustavus Selenus perfectly. In 1598, August, the youngest son of Duke Brunswick-Lüneburg, completed a two-year tour of Italy that left him in awe of its beautiful cities. Among them stood out Venice, which he visited three times. During his visits, he purchased an Italian translation of RUY Lopez's famous work, "a book about chess ingenuity and art". Intrigued by the book, August decided to create a comprehensive guide on chess for his countrymen. By 1616, Leipzig had published August's book, "Chess or the Royal Game", which showcased the translation of Lopez's work alongside information on chess history in Europe. The book even touched on its presence in distant Muscovy: "Russians play chess with remarkable wit and diligence; they are so skilled that others will find it hard to compete" (Paul Dearborn, 1581). Developed during the late Gothic period and the rise of Baroque art, chess pieces were influenced by the distinctive Gothic style. Characterized by openwork ornamentation, dynamics, and fluid curvilinear forms, these figures seemed to dance on the board. Contemporaries described Selenus' chess set as "the upper part of the figures crowned with a symbolic skeleton, where death laughs at the game". Chess was a favorite medieval theme: kings and pawns were equal before death. Selenus' pieces were crafted from wood, bone, silver, and gold. Venetian artisans even blew wine glasses from glass to create these intricate figures. Over time, their shapes remained largely unchanged. In the 18th century, delicate rosettes sometimes gave way to heavier designs, known as "crow's nests" by the Germans.