Description
Anri King Arthur Chessmen
Offered here is a beautifully hand-carved set of Anri King Arthur Chessmen, housed in a compartmented simulated wood cardboard box. The King stands 4-1/4″ tall. Both Kings still have their Anri lozenges under their bases. These chess pieces are design 71800/K. The chessmen are reminiscent of figurines found in Gothic Cathedrals. Each of the chessmen is magnificently hand-carved. The finely hand carved pieces from the Anri King Arthur Chess set are crafted from natural and brown-stained alpine maple. The bases are nicely weighted and the pieces are felted. This set is one of the most copied of all the Anri designs. Versions have been reproduced in ivory, wood, plastic, metal and resin. Some of the copyrights were sold by ANRI, others were simply stolen. Anri chessmen are 100% made in Italy for those who can appreciate the true value of these magnificent artistic chessmen. The chessmen and case are in excellent condition. Anri Arthur chess sets were produced between 1954 and 1993. The double-sided 8×8 and 10×8 Anri chessboard shown is not included. To see our extensive selection of antique and contemporary game timers and chessboards, click here.
About King Arthur
King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. In some Welsh and Breton tales and poems, Arthur appears either as a great warrior defending Britain from human and supernatural enemies or as a magical figure of folklore, sometimes associated with the Welsh otherworld. The details of Arthur’s story are debated and disputed by modern historians.
One school of thought, citing several sources, sees Arthur as a genuine historical figure, a Romano-British leader who fought against the invading Anglo-Saxons some time in the late 5th to early 6th century. The Historia Brittonum, a 9th-century Latin historical compilation contains the first datable mention of King Arthur, listing twelve battles that Arthur fought. These culminate in the Battle of Badon, where he is said to have single-handedly killed 960 men.
The other text that seems to support the case for Arthur’s historical existence is the 10th-century Annales Cambriae, which also links Arthur with the Battle of Badon. The Annales date this battle to 516–518, and also mention the Battle of Camlann, in which Arthur and Medraut (Mordred) were both killed, dated to 537–539. These details have often been used to bolster confidence in the Historia’s account and to confirm that Arthur really did fight at Badon.
There are many elements and incidents that are now an integral part of the Arthurian story, including Arthur’s father Uther Pendragon, the magician Merlin, Arthur’s wife Guinevere, the sword Excalibur, Arthur’s conception at Tintagel, his final battle against Mordred at Camlann, and final rest in Avalon. The 12th-century French writer Chrétien de Troyes added Lancelot and the Holy Grail to further enliven the legend!. for more information on the King Arthur legend, look here.
About Anri
In the late 19th century Alois Riffeser traveled to the major European cities to sell the wood carved figurines and toys which were bought from the farmers of the Gröden Valley located in the Dolomite region of the Alps. This area in South Tyrol was part of Austria-Hungary at the time until being annexed to Italy in 1919.
In 1912 Josef Anton Riffeser founded the ANRI Company, which he named using the first two letters of his first and last name. After World War I, where he was in a prisoner of war camp in Siberia, he formulated his plan for a woodcarving company. He created his own models which he distributed successfully, mainly in the Alpine region.
When Anton Adolf Riffeser took over in 1945, he transformed the ANRI company, adopting a more industrial model which allowed for better quality control and distribution to new markets. He was followed by Ernst Riffeser who was able to enlist the services of many well known artists including Juan Ferràndiz, Sarah Kay and others. The ANRI company today is run by Thomas Riffeser, and still remains in the same family.
The wood art tradition has a long history in Val Gardena, Italy. The tradition of woodcarving dates back to the XVII century, when farmers started producing wood toys and utensils during the long winter season. The peasants than used to sell the items at spring markets. Part of the autonomous region Alto Adige/Southern Tyrol in Italy, the Val Gardena is known for its ancient romantic language, its skiing facilities – and its old tradition of woodcarving. The ANRI company’s chess sets from the 1950s through the 1990s were produced in this region and have gained collectors status, thanks to their unparalleled quality.
The Anri workshops are renowned all over the world because the wonderful wooden sculptures and statues made by the famous local sculptors and carvers.
