Bernice and Floyd Sarisohn donated October’s featured set to the World Chess Hall of Fame. The Sarisohns share a passion for collecting chess sets, which began when Bernice gave one to Floyd as an engagement gift. In the years since, their devotion led them to become active members of Chess Collectors International, an organization founded in 1984 that brings together lovers of artistic chess sets and chess memorabilia. Their generous loans and donations have allowed the World Chess Hall of Fame to share a variety of wonderful sets with our patrons.
Denice Smith
Spooky Halloween Chess Set
2010
King size: 2 15/16 in. (Frankenstein’s monster), 3 ½ in. (Devil)
Board: 12 ⅜ x 14 5/16 x 3 ⅛
Wood, paint, clay, and cloth
Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame, gift of Bernice and Floyd Sarisohn
Gloomy ghosts, menacing monsters, and ghastly ghouls battle in a spooky dungeon in this Halloween-themed chess set. On the purple side, Frankenstein’s monster and the bride of Frankenstein serve as king and queen. The pair seem to be modeled on famous versions of the two monsters popularized in classic horror movies of the 1930s. The orange side is led by the devil and a witch, who mixes potions with a pestle made of a bone. The creator of this chess set took care to give each of the pawns individual expressions.
