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One of a group of 18 chess pieces designed by John Flaxman for Josiah Wedgwood
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John Flaxman RA (1755 - 1826), sculptor
One of a group of 18 chess pieces designed by John Flaxman for Josiah Wedgwood
c.1783
White Jasperware
Museum number: X5
On display: Model Room (pre-booked tours only)
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house.
For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit
Curatorial note
There are six different types of chess pieces with each of the two players starting with 16 pieces: eight pawns, two bishops, two knights, two rooks, one queen, and one king. The group of 18 pieces in Soane's collection is not a set since it includes 3 Kings, 3 Queens, 1 castle ['Rook'], 1 Bishop, 1 Knight, 8 pawns and one unidentified piece.
These chess pieces appear to be the original models, prototypes for the chess sets produced by Wedgwood to Flaxman's designs, which remained in Flaxman's own collection until his death in 1826. They were offered to Soane with other items from that collection by Flaxman's sister-in-law Maria Denman and acquired in March 1834.
In 2015 these chess pieces were reinstated in their original positions in the recreated Model Room Recess as part of Phase 2 of the Opening up the Soane restoration project, each placed in a special niche created for it at the end of a shelf in the pair of bookcases flanking the entrance.
These chess pieces appear to be the original models, prototypes for the chess sets produced by Wedgwood to Flaxman's designs, which remained in Flaxman's own collection until his death in 1826. They were offered to Soane with other items from that collection by Flaxman's sister-in-law Maria Denman and acquired in March 1834.
In 2015 these chess pieces were reinstated in their original positions in the recreated Model Room Recess as part of Phase 2 of the Opening up the Soane restoration project, each placed in a special niche created for it at the end of a shelf in the pair of bookcases flanking the entrance.
Literature
Helen Dorey ‘Soane and Flaxman’ in Flaxman: Master of the Purest Line, Exhibition Catalogue, Sir John Soane’s Museum 2003
Soane collections online is being continually updated. If you wish to find out more or if you have any further information about this object please contact us: worksofart@soane.org.uk