Dare to Know: Chess in the Age of Reason

Dare to Know: Chess in the Age of Reason showcases numerous chess sets, books, artwork, and other artifacts representing Enlightenment centers in Europe and the United States. Chess sets belonging to famous historical figures from the era, including Catherine the Great and Madame Tussaud, will be on view alongside humble playing sets and a display related to the “Mechanical Turk,” a famed chess-playing automaton.

Dare to Know: Chess in the Age of Reason

During the Enlightenment era, European and American scientists, philosophers, and other thinkers questioned the status quo, promoting ideas that would help shape today's society. Intellectuals gathered in new public spaces--cafes, coffee shops, salons, and masonic halls--to discuss new ideas. Some dared to challenge the power of monarchs and question organized religion. Many thinkers promoted values of tolerance, interest in other cultures, rationalism, and liberty. At the same time that there were challenges to the monarchy, chess was transforming from a game played by the aristocracy to one played by people of all social standings. Dare to Know: Chess in the Age of Reason explores the history of the game during this period of remarkable change.

Chess, which was knowledge, foresight, and strategy, naturally became a favored pastime of many of the era's most famous thinkers, including Voltaire, Denis Diderot, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau in France. They took part in the lively social scene that existed in coffee shops such as the legendary Café de la Régence, a renowned chess mecca that attracted philosophes and the best chess players of the era, including François-André Danican Philidor. Dare to Know: Chess in the Age of Reason showcases chess sets, books, artworks, and other artifacts hailing from Enlightenment centers in Europe and what was to become the United States.

Curated by Emily Allred, Curator, World Chess Hall of Fame, with Tom Gallegos

Denmark or Germany, Danish/German Count of Elberfeld Chess Set, c. 1750-1800, Ivory, Collection of Tom Gallegos, Photo by Carmody Creative

Louis Léopold Boilly, Le Jeu des Échecs (A Game of Chess), Early 19th century, Color lithograph, Collection of World Chess Hall of Fame

France, The Encyclopédie Set, c. 1750-80, Wood, Collection of Tom Gallegos, Photo by Carmody Creative

France, The Encyclopédie Set, c. 1750-80, Wood, Collection of Tom Gallegos, Photo by Austin and Crystal Fuller

J.E. Nilson, Das Schach Spiel (The Chess Game), 1730, Aquatint, Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame

France, Directoire Set, c. 1780-1800, Boxwood and ebony, Collection of Tom Gallegos, Photo by Carmody Creative

Germany, Kändler Chess Set, mid-18th century, Meissen porcelain, Collection of Dr. George and Vivian Dean

Joseph Friedrich Freiherr von Racknitz, Racknitz Plate III: The Turk, 1789, Paper, Public domain

Joseph Friedrich Freiherr von Racknitz, Racknitz Plate IV, V & VII, 1789, Paper, Public domain

Switzerland, Tarot Cards of Marseilles, c. 1795-1825, Paper, Collection of Tom Gallegos

German, Skull & Crossbones, c. Late 18th century, Cast Iron, Collection of Tom Gallegos
France, Master Mason’s Ritual Apron, 19th century, Silk, Collection of Tom Gallegos
England or The Netherlands, Triangle-base Candlesticks, 18th or 19th century, Brass, Collection of Tom Gallegos

England, Romans versus Saracens, c. 1800, Boxwood and ebony, Collection of Tom Gallegos, Photo by Austin Fuller

Dare to Know: Chess in the Age of Reason, Gallery View, Photo by Austin and Crystal Fuller

Dare to Know: Chess in the Age of Reason, Gallery View, Photo by Austin and Crystal Fuller

Possibly England, Sailor-Made Waterloo Scrimshaw Set, Wellington vs. Napoleon, c 1815-1830, Ivory, Collection of Tom Gallegos, Photo by Carmody Creative

France, French Miniature Encyclopedie Set, c mid-18th century, Ivory, Collection of Tom Gallegos, Photo by Carmody Creative

Italy, Italian Embriachi Folding Board, c 16th-17th century, Wood and ivory, Collection of Tom Gallegos, Photo by Carmody Creative

Germany, Selenus/Braunschweig Set, c. 1780, Silver and silver-gilt, Collection of Tom Gallegos, Photo by Carmody Creative

Ottoman Empire,Ottoman Crescent Staff, c 18th or early-19th century, Wood, Collection of Tom Gallegos, Phot By Austin and Crystal Fuller

Dare to Know: Chess in the Age of Reason, Gallery View, Photo by Austin and Crystal Fuller

Anton Carl Luplau for the Fürstenberg Porcelain Manufactory, The Chess Players, 1772, Hard-paste porcelain, Collection of Dr. Thomas H. Thomsen, Photo by Austin and Crystal Fuller