Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/291

 FOUND AT KIRKSTALL ABBEY. 171 We must refer our readers to his valuable treatise for full information upon this curious subject. Neither in that collection, nor amongst the pieces preserved in the " King's Library" at Paris, nor in any representations of other exist- ing examples of early forms of chess-men, has been found one precisely similar in type to the object now under con- sideration. The conjecture, however, suggested by close examination, which connects it with the game of chess, is not altogether hypothetical. It will be observed, that a striking feature of the form of this object is a peculiar narrow ridge, forming the prominent portion of the upper side. (See woodcuts.) What this might be originally intended to repre- sent, is an enigma to be solved only by a detailed comparison of the forms of ancient chess-men, and especially those of eastern countries, whence doubtless the original types were derived. In default of such means of information, recourse must be had to the minute delineations of media3val MSS., in which representations of the game of chess are often found. An illumination in a volume of German poetry, at Paris (Bibl. du Roi, No. 7266), exhibits pieces of a form analogous to that found at Kirkstall. The drawing represents Otho, Marquis of Brandenbourg, who died 1298, playing at chess with a lady. He holds a knight in his hand, and in her's is a captured rook. On the board appear, of the Count's game, two pieces with a small projec- tion at top, probably the king and queen, a rook and a pawn. Of the lady's pieces, one of like form, a rook and two alfyns, or bishops, are left. The drawing, it will be observed (see woodcut), is not strictly accurate, the squares on the board being insufficient in num- ber. This curious illustration has chessboard of tl.e Fourteenth century. been copied by Willemin ; and the learned editor of his work, M. Pettier, of Rouen, describes these pieces with projecting peaks as kings and queens. He observes, however : — " Leurs caracteres differentiels sent imparfaitement prononces ; le roi se terminait carrement par une espece de tete aplatie, et la reine portait sa tete en pointe." He considers the drawing to be of the early part of the fourteenth century.'' It appears, then, fairly to be concluded, that the Kirkstall piece presents ■* Wilk'tiiin, Monuiii. Iiii'il. toni. i., 1>1. cxxix.