Pawns & Passports: Chess Sets from Around the Globe

Exhibits Overview

In September of 2021, the WCHOF will celebrate our tenth anniversary in Saint Louis. When the institution moved from Miami to Saint Louis, it already boasted a collection of over 163 chess sets. However, through the generosity of numerous donors as well as some purchases, it has increased to include over 1200 sets  from over 65 countries. Since our opening, we have hosted numerous exhibitions blending chess with art, history, and popular culture. Among these have been many shows featuring chess sets from our collection and those from lenders around the United States and the world. Pawns & Passports: Chess Sets from Around the Globe includes highlights from the diverse chess set collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF). Through this display, we hope to give visitors the opportunity to “travel” around the world from our gal-lery. We also would like to highlight the stories these sets tell, both through their imagery and the stories of how they traveled from their places of origin to our location in Saint Louis.

Chess History

Since chess’s creation, people of different regions have transformed the pieces to reflect their own cultures and history. While the pieces originally reflected units in the Indian military, replete with chariots, cavalry, elephants, and military advisors, European chess set creators later included pieces like bishops and queens, reflective of their own political structures. In 1849, the Staunton-style chess set was introduced to the public. Though it has since become the standard set for tournament play around the world, people still create sets with unique imagery. Some are meant more for display rather than for play and their appearances draw from stories, history, or local artistic traditions. The sets on view in Pawns & Passports have diverse stories. Many are local variations on playing sets, while others are pieces produced as souvenirs. We invite you to learn more about them through this selection of activities.

Connection to WCHOF Mission

The WCHOF is dedicated to interpreting the game of chess and its continuing cultural and artistic significance. Chess, with its opposing sides and rich history, has proven an attractive arena for artists and creators to explore different imagery and stories. As chess has spread around the world, it has attracted the attention of artists and creators who have made sets that incorporate themes and stories from their own cultures.