Chess Game Pieces

Item number 2697/1 a-ff from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Full set of 32 chess pieces, half carved from slate and half from walrus tusk. In each colour there are: one large walrus figure with diamonds around the base of the pedestal (parts a, q); one smaller walrus with bands around the base of the pedestal (parts b, r); two bear figures (parts c-d, s-t); two deer figures (parts e-f, u-v); two igloo figures (parts g-h, w-x); and eight bird figures (parts i-p, y-ff). All of the figures are at the top of a pedestal base. The larger white walrus piece has inlaid black stone in a band around the top of the pedestal and at the centre of each diamond around the base.

Narrative

Collected at the request of Ed Smith by Buster Brown when he was working on the Dew Line in the Northwest Territories, by contact and arrangement with the artist through Bishop M. Lacroix and Fr. Dufour of the Roman Catholic Mission at Igloolik. This set was Pacome's first chess set. Two others are known: one is in a private collection and the third was a gift from Canada to the Queen.