| Description: | Rare and unique hand carved and beautifully painted "Tyrolean" chess set, made in the best of the "Black Forest" woodcarving tradition.
The major chess pieces depict images from the life of the Tyrolians, wearing traditional attire. They skillfully capture an extinct way of life in the Tyrol. The King, farmer-hunter, smoking a typical long-stem pipe; The queen mixing-beating butter; The Bishops as stylish young runners; Knights as mountain deer-gazelle-goats; Rooks as log-cabins on mountain-rock tops. Whimsical mountain goats, in four different natural playful positions are used for pawns.
The carving resembles and surpasses the work done by many, including Anri of Italy, in quality, colors and subject matter. The primary color use for painting is Green - the traditional color of the Tyrol leather-made outfits. One side is dark, the other light pastel green.
The box itself is another piece of art, depicting the heads of a Tyrolean man and woman. The image is raised out, carved "Raised Relief" technique through elaborate depressed carving of the areas around. The box is signed on the underside OBERAMMERGAU, a quaint destination in the Bavarian Alps, with centuries-old traditions; Hienzeller, Hans Heinrich Zeller wood sculpturing workshop, still in operation since 1940s and the maker s trademark. 2021. Sold. |
