Description
Anri Montsalvat Chessmen.
Offered here is a set of the famous Anri Montsalvat Chessmen, with beautifully hand-carved and hand-painted figural pieces. This is the Standard size, with a King height of 5-1/2 inches. The King from the Dark Army still bears the Anri sticker on he underside of its base. The chessmen represent King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The name of the chess set is taken from the castle where the Holy Grail is housed in the legend of “King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table”. These finely hand carved Anri Montsalvat Chessmen are crafted from Alpine Maple and are hand-painted and gilded. The bases are moderately weighted and the pieces are felted. The chess piece are housed in their large Alpine Maple hinge-top box with removable compartmented trays. The Chess Pieces are in excellent condition. The box has very attractive graining. It has lost some of its burgundy flocking on the underside of the box. The Anri Montsalvat Chessmen are the most famous of the ANRI chess products. They are 100% made in Italy for those who can appreciate the true value of these magnificent artistic chessmen. These sets were produced between 1949 and 1960. The set was made in Italy by Italian craftsmen. The Montsalvat sets were made between 1949 and 1960.
Some Background.
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 1980s 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.
