Ancient chessmen
an exhibition in the Castle Museum of Mayenne, Bretagne (France) -
Echecs et Trictrac
Fabrication et Usages des Jeux de Tables au Moyen Age
23.6. - 18.11. 2012
Curators:
Jean-François Goret (city archeologist of the city of St. Denis)
Matheu Grandet (Director of the Castle Museum of Mayenne)
Echecs et Trictrac
Fabrication et Usages des Jeux de Tables au Moyen Age
23.6. - 18.11. 2012
Curators:
Jean-François Goret (city archeologist of the city of St. Denis)
Matheu Grandet (Director of the Castle Museum of Mayenne)
Mayenne
Mayenne castle overlooking the river Mayenne- today housing the City Museum - belies its origins as a Carolingian Royal Residence in the 8th and 9th century,,,
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... the impressive gothic cathedral
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Chess and Tric-Trac -
the making of medieval games pieces
A fascinating exhibition on medieval gaming pieces has been on display all summer through at the Castle Museum in Mayenne, Brittany, and ended last week. This show - whose catalyst were the numerous chessmen and games counters found during archeological excavations in the castle cellars - contrived to exhibit the games treasure found and set it off with numerous chess and tric-trac men recovered in digs all over France. I was lucky enough to pass through shortly before the end of the show, and here is my report.
Mayenne castle
The main reason for organizing this show has to do with the hoard of chess and tric-trac men unearthed in the castle of Mayenne during excavations at the end of the 90ies. Alltogether 35 chess pieces, two tric-trac boards and 51 tric-trac stones plus 7 nine mens morris (=merelle) stones were found during this campaign, making Mayenne the mayor find for gaming pieces in France - and one of the most important ones in Europe.
The pieces all date from the 10th to the 12th century - when the castle was owned by the Mayenne family - and most of them are carved in stag antler horn, a material in abundance and much used in these days for all kinds of household utensils. The Mayenne treasure is supplemented and set off with pieces found in other parts of Franceor preserved in museums. Additonally, the curators have managed to show the earliest known European tric-trac board - the Gloucester board - and even some games pieces from Germany. Only the grandiose collection of the Museum de Cluny and the Bibliotheque Nationale are conspicuously absent from this show - but then, this is a gallery of archeological discoveries.
The pieces all date from the 10th to the 12th century - when the castle was owned by the Mayenne family - and most of them are carved in stag antler horn, a material in abundance and much used in these days for all kinds of household utensils. The Mayenne treasure is supplemented and set off with pieces found in other parts of Franceor preserved in museums. Additonally, the curators have managed to show the earliest known European tric-trac board - the Gloucester board - and even some games pieces from Germany. Only the grandiose collection of the Museum de Cluny and the Bibliotheque Nationale are conspicuously absent from this show - but then, this is a gallery of archeological discoveries.
Staghorn chessmen
2 kings and a queen , probably from the mid of the XI.Century, found together with eight other pieces at the bottom of a well beyond the ancient city wall of Noyon (Oise dep.).
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staghorn pawns, rock cristal pawn, Boves
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From underwater
Wooden bishop and antler rook, part of a handful of chessmen and alltogether 7400 objects miraculously preserved on an underwater site in Lake Paladru. This material seems to have been left still in the 11th century when the lake level suddenly rose, forcing the inhabitants of the houses to flee!
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Villejoubert finds
Found in the fortress of Andone, established by the Dukes of Angouleme around 980 - a rook in the typical crenellation form, pawns and a few bone dice. Chess pieces were usually found in the company of tric-trac and merelle counters as well as dice....
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A traveling chess piece carver
What makes the Mayenne find so interesting, is the material side of the treasure, mainly made from antler horn. Since many of the pieces are of similar design, it seems that at one time a sizeable production must have taken place inside the castle, possibly by an itinerant craftsman. Several shards and partly cut or otherwise worked pieces of stag horn corroborate the point. And chess seems to have been an important part of court life in the Mayenne household - the fascinating glass windows showing chess and tric-trac gamesters in the cathedral of close-by Le Mans were donated by Isabel de Mayenne, daughter of the last Lord of Mayenne Juhel III. - she is also represented in the window!
The workshop as well as the pieces - most of chess chess pieces are pawns! - permit also to verifiy
- which tools were most likely used by the craftsmen,
- and how the antler sections served for different pieces .
Chess pawns , knights and bishops are generally made from the massive tips, tric-trac counters from he bases or crosscuts at the base, kings and queen from middle parts of the main antler branch. Antlers ahve a hard outer carapace, with massive tips, while the interior is mainly made of a spongy material which later hardens after the growth has ended.
Some of the Mayenne tric-trac counters actually were carved in staghorn and then composed into a sandwich with two carved side, a central copper disk, and metal nails to hold the counter together - quite a complicated process of manufacture.
Less effort is spent on how pieces were carved from morse ivory - only three stones are represented, although for the very first time in public. As for bone, the catalogue notes that certain parts of cow skeletons were used in preference. The jaw bone because of its strong consistency served well for turning counters, the tibia bones for chess men, and the ribs were ideal for producing the barbs to make up a tric-trac board.
The workshop as well as the pieces - most of chess chess pieces are pawns! - permit also to verifiy
- which tools were most likely used by the craftsmen,
- and how the antler sections served for different pieces .
Chess pawns , knights and bishops are generally made from the massive tips, tric-trac counters from he bases or crosscuts at the base, kings and queen from middle parts of the main antler branch. Antlers ahve a hard outer carapace, with massive tips, while the interior is mainly made of a spongy material which later hardens after the growth has ended.
Some of the Mayenne tric-trac counters actually were carved in staghorn and then composed into a sandwich with two carved side, a central copper disk, and metal nails to hold the counter together - quite a complicated process of manufacture.
Less effort is spent on how pieces were carved from morse ivory - only three stones are represented, although for the very first time in public. As for bone, the catalogue notes that certain parts of cow skeletons were used in preference. The jaw bone because of its strong consistency served well for turning counters, the tibia bones for chess men, and the ribs were ideal for producing the barbs to make up a tric-trac board.
Le Mans cathedral windows
Two of the sections show a game of chess and a game of tric-trac - the donator's likenesses are shown above. This very good copy was produced especially for this show.
figurative pawns - most of the Mayenne pawns were of the simple type, though....
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Stag king
Unfortunately not a very clear photo - an antler horn king from Mayenne.
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Figural vz. symbolic
The wide canopy of chessmen shown reveal how chess in Western Europe was influenced by the arab-oriental traditions. On one hand, the typical symbolic forms of chessmen transmited from the Muslim world abound, on the other hand, some of the figurative tradition of Saracen Sicily and thereby Salerno do occur (as in the pieces of la Motte de Loisy). And while the process must have been slow, the chess men in their arab forms start to develop facial features, slight figurative alterations, and additions, on their way to more recognizeable forms. The antler horn pieces or Mayenne reflect this change - the light decorations with chisel and drill (occelli_eyelets) on the simple pawns contrast with the heads of kings, and the simple and crude facial development of other pawns - possibly from a goodly few years later!
Bishop
In stag horn, again not a very clear photo...the typical two protuberances, remniscient of the ancient elephant teeth....
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Rook
Staghorn - the photo does not permit to see the capillary surface of the horn - only the tips are massive , the rest of the horns is composed of many capillary ducts.....
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Artistic evidence
The gamepieces are of course the main attraction, still the show makes a major effort to put the games into perspective, via multiple reproductions of games as depicted in glass windows, sculpture, book illumination and frescoes. This permits the general and non-specialized public to have a slight idea of the ambiance in which games flourished in the middle ages - mainly court and clerical life.
One facet that this show brings to the fore, is the simultaneious occurence of chess pieces with tric-trac stones and other games in most archeological finds. This may have to do with the sites - deserted houses, trash heaps - but simply with the fact that these games were played by the same people, were part of the gamut of diversions in general, and that in some versions of chess dice were used in the middle ages, a custom imported from the arab countries.
Another detail that becomes clear is how the old minimalistic chessmen, inherited from the arabs, slowly become and gain figurative character in Europe - the kings are topped with heads, the knights with faces, and even the pawns are imbued with figurative traits.....
One facet that this show brings to the fore, is the simultaneious occurence of chess pieces with tric-trac stones and other games in most archeological finds. This may have to do with the sites - deserted houses, trash heaps - but simply with the fact that these games were played by the same people, were part of the gamut of diversions in general, and that in some versions of chess dice were used in the middle ages, a custom imported from the arab countries.
Another detail that becomes clear is how the old minimalistic chessmen, inherited from the arabs, slowly become and gain figurative character in Europe - the kings are topped with heads, the knights with faces, and even the pawns are imbued with figurative traits.....
Game against death
Illumination From a medieval manuscript....
Carved backgammon counters
Some of the Games pieces from Mayenne are highly elaborate...
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from Winchester Cathedral - figure with a chess board in one hand, and dice in the other...
Gambler's fight
The altercation between two dice gamblers, explains the reticence of the church against games and gambling during these times. Ironically, this fresco is from a choir arch in the parish church in Pontigny (Maine) - only visible for the clergy !!
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The show will go on!
The excavations in the castle were part of a project of restoring and adapting the building in order to establish the town museum in it - and the main achievement was to clear the former Carolingian main hall from later additions and and restore it to its ancient form. In fact, the oldest part of the building later included in the enlarged fortress is one of the few early medieval palace buildings preserved, and quite sensational in its own.
It is this hall which housed the main - Mayenne part of the exhibit - and where these gaming pieces will also be shown in the future, creating therefore a permanent exhibit! It is absolutely worth any traveller's or tourists time to pass by, and visit this collection, as well as the other notable artefacts and objects shown and illustrated in the Museum. For the rest, I would just like to present the photos taken.........
It is this hall which housed the main - Mayenne part of the exhibit - and where these gaming pieces will also be shown in the future, creating therefore a permanent exhibit! It is absolutely worth any traveller's or tourists time to pass by, and visit this collection, as well as the other notable artefacts and objects shown and illustrated in the Museum. For the rest, I would just like to present the photos taken.........
King or Queen ?
Walrus ivory piece from the late 11th century, found in the chateau of Crevecoeur near Lisieux, already in the 19th century during excavations ! Today in a private collection, shown for the first time in public......
Tricky
One knight and two bishops, with the two "globes" in the front. Please check the underside of the bishop on the perspex stand....this pieces has been made into a whistle !
rook from the find o Loisy, in the form of a war chariot!
walrus ivory knight with rudimentary face, XIII. century
two knights, one bishop
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Rook and queen
A rook and queen in stag antler horn....
rook, king pawn...
two knights....
a knight from the rich find of teh former fort of Loisy, Bresse - a figure kneeling on one knee!
staghorn pawns, with the interior removed...
Various pieces
From left, knight, pawn, king, and rook....
A deux
King and lady both in staghorn....
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Games pieces galore
View of one of the vitrines - the numerous reflections and strobe lights are partly accountable for the quality of the pics...
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Antler pieces
A rook, a king or queen and a pawn .. the spongy capillary mass of the antler core is well in evidence....
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The opulence of medieval backgammon
Even the most diehard chess fan would concede that the tric-trac games in the Mayenne show outstrip the chess men in artistic interest and opulence. This has to do with the fact that no complete chess set , nor any chess board is on show - while two complete tric-trac boards and a plethora of counters of the most diverse levels of accomplishment are exposed.
Chess is a difficult game, especially in its medieval-arab version, and most likely the livelier and faster tric-trac was more entertaining then as today. Medieval tric-trac does not differ very much from today's backgammon, aprat some details of rules. In Mayenne's cellar, a complete tric-trac board - that is, the pointed divisions between the both sides, and remnants of the bone fittings - have come to light, as well as rests of another one , and the most diverse counters - from highly artistic ones to simple and workmanlike ones, with minimal drill or chisel ornaments.The two Mayenne boards were shown side by side with the oldest tric-trac board in Europe, the Gloucester board (in a very good copy) - and another set of tric-trac pointers unearthed in St. Denis 40 years ago.
While many of the counters shown are fashioned from antler horn, the board dividers are generally made from cowribs, and more or less lavishly decorated with ornamental circles, stripes and patterns.
Chess is a difficult game, especially in its medieval-arab version, and most likely the livelier and faster tric-trac was more entertaining then as today. Medieval tric-trac does not differ very much from today's backgammon, aprat some details of rules. In Mayenne's cellar, a complete tric-trac board - that is, the pointed divisions between the both sides, and remnants of the bone fittings - have come to light, as well as rests of another one , and the most diverse counters - from highly artistic ones to simple and workmanlike ones, with minimal drill or chisel ornaments.The two Mayenne boards were shown side by side with the oldest tric-trac board in Europe, the Gloucester board (in a very good copy) - and another set of tric-trac pointers unearthed in St. Denis 40 years ago.
While many of the counters shown are fashioned from antler horn, the board dividers are generally made from cowribs, and more or less lavishly decorated with ornamental circles, stripes and patterns.
Gloucester Tric
From the 11th century - and practically complete, as fastened to the basic wooden boards. The counters are unique inasfar they depict human figures as well as animals....
Gloucester counters in bone
... a cluster from Gloucester....
three figurative counters
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Mayenne Trac
Simpler design, and probably later date than the Gloucester Tric-Trac.
a goose . and detailed rim ornaments...
Tric-Trac from St. Denis
Found during excavations around the abbey of St.Denis near Paris, this tric-trac board is very similar to the one found 40 years later in Mayenne's castle.
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Upright pawn
Turned from antler horn tip - with two ornamental rings, and a cropped top!
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Simple counters
From the site of Boves (Somme), a collection of tric-trac counters with simple ornamentation - circles and central crosses. Made from the bases of antler horn.
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Conclusions
From the show, it is most notable that the Mayenne find is both important in terms of quantity, as well as the quality especially of the tric-trac counters, and the occurrence of numerous leftovers indicating the - albeit temporary- existence of a workshop in the castle. Since the Mayenne part and some additions will stay in the newly adapted Carolingian hall inside the Museum, it is very likely that chess and games fans as well as the numerous academic games fraternity will have to fix Mayenne on their personal landmap!
Jean-François Goret, chief archeologist of the City of St. Denis, and Mathieu Grandet, director of the Museum of Mayenne, are to be lauded and congratulated for assembling and launching this unique exhibition. Many of the over 150 pieces have been shown to the public for the first time. It is to be hoped and expected that from the point of view of exploring medieval gaming habits there will be a follow-up in some way - say symposions, say further excavations , say publications - or even an international exhibition on medieval gaming, including some of the highlights shown in the castle of Mayenne!
Readers of this report may be interested in getting a more detailed picture - the catalogue with several interesting essays by Mathieu Grandet, Luc Bourgeois and Lucien Davy, as well as dozens of excellent photos can be obtained directly from the Museum
Museum du Chateau de Mayenne
Place Juhel
F-53100 Mayenne
E-Mail: [email protected]
or from the publisher
Catalogue Echecs et Trictrac
ed. Errance
www.editions-errance.fr
160 pp, format DINB A4, over 180 photos and drawings
ISBN: 978-2-87772-503-3
Jean-François Goret, chief archeologist of the City of St. Denis, and Mathieu Grandet, director of the Museum of Mayenne, are to be lauded and congratulated for assembling and launching this unique exhibition. Many of the over 150 pieces have been shown to the public for the first time. It is to be hoped and expected that from the point of view of exploring medieval gaming habits there will be a follow-up in some way - say symposions, say further excavations , say publications - or even an international exhibition on medieval gaming, including some of the highlights shown in the castle of Mayenne!
Readers of this report may be interested in getting a more detailed picture - the catalogue with several interesting essays by Mathieu Grandet, Luc Bourgeois and Lucien Davy, as well as dozens of excellent photos can be obtained directly from the Museum
Museum du Chateau de Mayenne
Place Juhel
F-53100 Mayenne
E-Mail: [email protected]
or from the publisher
Catalogue Echecs et Trictrac
ed. Errance
www.editions-errance.fr
160 pp, format DINB A4, over 180 photos and drawings
ISBN: 978-2-87772-503-3
