Escher Chess set identify
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Hi
I'll try to keep this short
In 1939 - 1940 the artist M.C. Escher (b.1898 Netherlands) created a woodcut print entitled ‘Metamorphosis II’ (detail on attached)
I am trying to track down which chess set was used as the model. He was a good draftsman so I have no reason to believe the details of the pieces are incorrect, except maybe for the rook which I will come to later. The piece was started and probably completed while he was in Switzerland having left Italy in 1935. While in Switzerland in 1936 (pre: Metamorphosis II) he created a poster for the local chess club. This brings us to the Rook. I think he may have adapted the Rook to include the circles to fit in with bridge castle. Also you will notice the straight sided base. The closest set I could find was a French Lardy chess set as the nose of the knight is about right even though where it meets the base seems wrong.
Thank you for reading and look forward to your expert replies.
Michael