African Motif Chess Set and Table
Artifact SeriesHead of State Gifts
Artifact IDFO.695864.1.a-hh
Object Type
Set, Chess
Gifter
Morgan Tsvangirai
Intended Recipient
President Barack Obama
(American, 1961)
Medium
wood, varnish
DimensionsOverall - 3D (.a - Board) H 1/2 in x Diam 13 1/4 in (1.3 cm x 33.7 cm )
Overall - 3D (.b - Legs - Folded) H 24 1/2 in x W 3 1/4 in (62.2 cm x 8.3 cm )
Overall - 3D (.c &.s: King) H 2 3/4 in x W 5/8 in x D 1 in (7 cm x 1.6 cm x 2.5 cm )
Overall - 3D (.d & .t: Queen) H 2 3/8 in x W 5/8 in x D 7/8 in (6 cm x 1.7 cm x 2.3 cm )
Overall - 3D (.e-f & .u-v: Bishop) H 2 in x W 3/4 in x D 1 in (5.1 cm x 1.9 cm x 2.5 cm )
Overall - 3D (.g-h & .w-x: Knight) H 1 7/8 in x W 5/8 in x D 1 in (4.8 cm x 1.6 cm x 2.5 cm )
Overall - 3D (.i-j & .y-z: Rook) H 1/4 in x W 5/8 in x D 1 in (0.6 cm x 1.5 cm x 2.5 cm )
Overall - 3D (.k-r & .aa-hh: Pawn) H 1 5/8 in x W 1/2 in x D 3/4 in (4.1 cm x 1.3 cm x 1.9 cm )
Physical DescriptionCarved wooden chess set with circular table top game board, three interlocking legs, and two full sets of dark and light game pieces. Surrounding the playing board are carvings of elephants, a leopard, and a rhinoceros. The same animals plus a water buffalo are carved on the bottom of the game board. The tops of the three legs where the game board rests are carved into faces. Playing pieces are carved into the shapes of various African motifs including a hut, various animals, and people.Overall - 3D (.b - Legs - Folded) H 24 1/2 in x W 3 1/4 in (62.2 cm x 8.3 cm )
Overall - 3D (.c &.s: King) H 2 3/4 in x W 5/8 in x D 1 in (7 cm x 1.6 cm x 2.5 cm )
Overall - 3D (.d & .t: Queen) H 2 3/8 in x W 5/8 in x D 7/8 in (6 cm x 1.7 cm x 2.3 cm )
Overall - 3D (.e-f & .u-v: Bishop) H 2 in x W 3/4 in x D 1 in (5.1 cm x 1.9 cm x 2.5 cm )
Overall - 3D (.g-h & .w-x: Knight) H 1 7/8 in x W 5/8 in x D 1 in (4.8 cm x 1.6 cm x 2.5 cm )
Overall - 3D (.i-j & .y-z: Rook) H 1/4 in x W 5/8 in x D 1 in (0.6 cm x 1.5 cm x 2.5 cm )
Overall - 3D (.k-r & .aa-hh: Pawn) H 1 5/8 in x W 1/2 in x D 3/4 in (4.1 cm x 1.3 cm x 1.9 cm )
Historical NoteReceived on the occasion of an official foreign state visit to the White House by Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in June 2009.
Custodial History / ProvenanceThe item was a gift from a foreign official to President Barack Obama during the Obama Administration. It was received through the Executive Office of the President and maintained there until its transfer to the National Archives in January 2017 for deposit with the Obama Presidential Library.Additional Details
National Archives Catalog CollectionBarack Obama Artifact Collection (National Archives Identifier 63542091)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts of State (National Archives Identifier 66540607)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - Possibly
Use Restriction NoteCopyright or other proprietary rights may be held by individuals or entities other than the Obama Presidential Library. The Obama Presidential Library does not warrant that the use of materials will not infringe on the rights of third parties holding the rights to these works, or make any representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement, treaty, or protections that may apply. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy any copyright or other use restrictions. Pertinent regulations can be found at 36 C.F.R 1254.62.
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