It’s extremely jarring to see a chessboard that uses abstract symbology for its pieces rather than gendered/role based imagery. It’s a foreign thing, and as someone introduced to chess through its usual Western depiction I’d find it extremely difficult to play not having the rather opaque imagery typically depicted.

Birth of the Chess Queen builds an interesting argument on the use of imagery as a reflection of culture; looking at this picture it’s easy to understand that this chess set was made for its portability and functionality as a game. Compact, differentiated pieces that are easy to carry. A folding board. Possibly showing that Chess is a much more social game than what was to be assumed.

The ornateness of the board and the pieces also indicate a level of craftsmanship and detail, even among its relatively simple design. Chess has become a collectible commodity throughout history, and it’s interesting to see part of that commodification be in its functionality rather than its form.