Description
Anri Juan Ferrandiz Toriart Chessmen.
Offered here is a set of beautifully hand painted Anri Juan Ferrandiz Toriart Chessmen. This was Catalog #718-025. The King stands 3-3/4″ tall with a 1-1/2″ diameter base. The chessmen are cushioned atop blood red base pads and are nicely weighted for improved ballast. The white Kings and Queens have their original Anri and Toriart Stickers under their bases. The Juan Ferrandiz Chessmen are part of the Toriart Collection. The chessmen are a cast composite material invented by Anri called “Sculptite”, which is a slurry of sawdust and resin. The castings are mounted atop weighted and felted turned Alpine Maple bases. The Chessmen are housed in their original compartmented cardboard display box with removable trays
Anri Juan Ferrandiz Toriart chessmen are 100% made in Italy for those who can appreciate the true value of these magnificent artistic chessmen. The chess pieces and display box are in excellent condition. These chessmen are quite rare, were only produced between 1970 and 1974.
Who was Jaun Ferrandiz?
Juan Francisco Manuel Ferrándiz Castells was a Spanish illustrator and sculptor born in the Gracia neighborhood of Barcelona and trained at the Barcelona School of Fine Arts. He collaborated in numerous film productions, both short and feature films – among them, “Once upon a time” (1948-1950) – and wrote and illustrated many children’s books. In fact, Children and Cherubs are a consistent theme throughout his sculptures. From 1952 he was internationally recognized as the author of a type of Christmas greetings with stylized, smiling shepherds or angels, which have been widely imitated.
Juan Ferrándiz’s work is known and appreciated worldwide; however, he is hardly mentioned in any history book, illustration or painting. Many believe that he was relegated to the background because of the religious theme of his works. A multifaceted artist like few others, Ferrándiz left his indelible mark on three very different artistic fields (illustration, literature and sculpture), but united by a common theme: the wonderful world of children. This can be clearly seen in his Anri sculptures as well as the Anri Juan Ferrandiz Toriart Chessmen featured here.
