Mosaic Glass Game Piece

Chess and game pieces from the Islamic world vary in shape and material: they can appear as a complex figure or as a simple abstract form in different material such a glass, ivory or stone. This game piece is of elongated cylindrical shape made of yellow, red, brown and white roundels of glass. The discovery of fragments of mosaic or millefiori glass and tiles in the ruins of Jawsaq al-Khaqani, the Abbasid palace built by Caliph al -Mu’tasim in 221-279 AH/836-42 CE at Samarra, confirms the production of glass objects using this Antique technique, revived in the 3th century AH/ 9th century CE. In this technique, various coloured glass rods were fused together to form larger units, which were cut into smaller roundels. These pieces were then placed in a mould in order to be melted together. The result of this technique shows a colourful pattern, reminiscent of a thousand flowers, as the word millefiori illustrates. This laborious technique was popular during the early Abbasid period and initiated the manufacture of objects such as gaming pieces, shallow dishes, bowls, tiles and perfume or cosmetic containers.