Chess: East and West, Past and Present by Charles K. Wilkinson & Jessie McNab Dennis (1968)

A sampling of the great  creativity and diversity of chess sets from across the ages and around the world. 

Nonfiction Review: Chess: East and West, Past and Present is the hard-cover catalogue of an exhibition of chess pieces and sets shown at the Brooklyn Museum in 1968 and sponsored by that institution and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the bulk of which is portrayed in here. Most of the works are from the Gustavus A. Pfeiffer Collection, and what's displayed is about a third of the Metropolitan's collection. Who knew the Met collected chess sets? The earliest pieces are from the Sixth or Seventh Centuries to the Ninth and Eleventh Centuries, with the most recent from the 20th Century up to 1944. The sets are made in a wide variety of materials from ivory, bone, wood, amber, iron, silver, ammunition cartridges, and just about anything else the human mind can conceive. Sets are presented from every region on earth -- Indigenous Americans from Mexico and Alaska, Nigeria and Algeria, Japan, China, Burma, Malaya, India, as well as virtually every country in Europe. There are representational sets, designed as figures whether animals or human. These often portray competing armies such Christians and Muslims, Communists and Capitalists, Prussians and Hungarians, Good and Evil, and concepts such as the Conversion of California, The Discovery of America, Shakespeare, Cowboys and Indians, even Blondes and Brunettes. Some of the sets are clearly partisan and intended to make political or social statements. An unusual way to evaluate history and society. There are also the more commonly used "conventional" or abstract designs, meaningful only to those who understand the motif -- such as the most common Staunton style. In all there are 108 styles of pieces or sets, proving the aptness of the title, Chess: East and West,  Past and Present. The introduction is authoritative, thorough, and interesting, covering a wide variety of themes regarding the history of chess and pieces. For the player, addict, or collector this is an eye-opening book showing great diversity and creativity, and some of the sets (Alice in Wonderland) are great fun. Copies are available second hand. In the "if wishes were horses" category, the book could've benefited from more color plates, there are a few but not enough and the character of the various pieces and sets don't come through well in black and white. But then the catalogue would've cost a fortune.  [4★]