United States Versus Russia Chess Set
Artifact SeriesPost Presidential Collection
Artifact ID2021.2.1.a-hh
Object Type
Set, Chess
Maker
Nicolas Waton
(French)
Medium
paper (cardboard), plastic (vinyl), wood, clay, paint, ink
DimensionsOverall - 3D (.a: Cardboard Chess Board, Closed) H 10 in x W 10 in x D 3/8 in (25.4 cm x 25.4 cm x 1 cm )
Overall - 3D (.a: Cardboard Chess Board, Open) H 19 3/4 in x W 19 3/4 in x D 1/8 in (50.2 cm x 50.2 cm x 0.3 cm )
Overall - 2D (.b: Vinyl Chess Board) L 16 3/8 in x W 15 3/4 in (40 cm x 41.6 cm )
Overall - 3D (.c: Blue King) H 4 1/2 in x W 2 1/2 in x D 2 1/2 in (11.4 cm x 6.4 cm x 6.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.d: Blue Queen) H 4 in x W 2 1/2 in x D 2 1/2 in (10.2 cm x 6.4 cm x 6.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.e-f: Blue Bishops) H 3 1/2 in x W 2 in x D 2 in (8.9 cm x 5.1 cm x 5.1 cm )
Overall - 3D (.g-h: Blue Rooks, Maximum) H 4 in x W 1 3/4 in x D 1 3/4 in (10.2 cm x 4.4 cm x 4.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.i-j: Blue Knights, Maximum) H 3 3/4 in x W 1 1/2 in x D 2 1/2 in (9.5 cm x 3.8 cm x 6.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.k-r: Blue Pawns, Maximum) H 2 1/2 in x W 1 3/4 in x D 2 in (6.4 cm x 4.4 cm x 5.1 cm )
Overall - 3D (.s: Red King) H 4 1/4 in x W 2 3/4 in x D 2 1/4 in (10.8 cm x 7 cm x 5.7 cm )
Overall - 3D (.t: Red Queen) H 4 in x W 2 1/2 in x D 2 1/2 in (10.2 cm x 6.4 cm x 6.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.u-v: Red Bishops, Maximum) H 3 3/4 in x W 2 in x D 1 1/2 in (9.5 cm x 5.1 cm x 3.8 cm )
Overall - 3D (.w-x: Red Rooks, Maximum) H 4 1/4 in x W 2 1/4 in x D 6 in (10.8 cm x 5.7 cm x 15.2 cm )
Overall - 3D (.y-z: Red Knights) H 3 3/4 in x W 1 in x D 2 1/2 in (9.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 6.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.aa-hh: Red Pawns, Maximum) H 2 1/2 in x W 1 3/4 in x D 2 in (6.4 cm x 4.4 cm x 5.1 cm )
Physical Description34 piece handmade chess set with two boards, a green cardboard board with yellow and blue boxes (.a) and a white vinyl board with blue and green boxes and six tabs along its outer edges (.b).Overall - 3D (.a: Cardboard Chess Board, Open) H 19 3/4 in x W 19 3/4 in x D 1/8 in (50.2 cm x 50.2 cm x 0.3 cm )
Overall - 2D (.b: Vinyl Chess Board) L 16 3/8 in x W 15 3/4 in (40 cm x 41.6 cm )
Overall - 3D (.c: Blue King) H 4 1/2 in x W 2 1/2 in x D 2 1/2 in (11.4 cm x 6.4 cm x 6.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.d: Blue Queen) H 4 in x W 2 1/2 in x D 2 1/2 in (10.2 cm x 6.4 cm x 6.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.e-f: Blue Bishops) H 3 1/2 in x W 2 in x D 2 in (8.9 cm x 5.1 cm x 5.1 cm )
Overall - 3D (.g-h: Blue Rooks, Maximum) H 4 in x W 1 3/4 in x D 1 3/4 in (10.2 cm x 4.4 cm x 4.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.i-j: Blue Knights, Maximum) H 3 3/4 in x W 1 1/2 in x D 2 1/2 in (9.5 cm x 3.8 cm x 6.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.k-r: Blue Pawns, Maximum) H 2 1/2 in x W 1 3/4 in x D 2 in (6.4 cm x 4.4 cm x 5.1 cm )
Overall - 3D (.s: Red King) H 4 1/4 in x W 2 3/4 in x D 2 1/4 in (10.8 cm x 7 cm x 5.7 cm )
Overall - 3D (.t: Red Queen) H 4 in x W 2 1/2 in x D 2 1/2 in (10.2 cm x 6.4 cm x 6.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.u-v: Red Bishops, Maximum) H 3 3/4 in x W 2 in x D 1 1/2 in (9.5 cm x 5.1 cm x 3.8 cm )
Overall - 3D (.w-x: Red Rooks, Maximum) H 4 1/4 in x W 2 1/4 in x D 6 in (10.8 cm x 5.7 cm x 15.2 cm )
Overall - 3D (.y-z: Red Knights) H 3 3/4 in x W 1 in x D 2 1/2 in (9.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 6.4 cm )
Overall - 3D (.aa-hh: Red Pawns, Maximum) H 2 1/2 in x W 1 3/4 in x D 2 in (6.4 cm x 4.4 cm x 5.1 cm )
The United States is represented in the blue pieces. The king piece is represented by a depiction of President Barack Obama (.c) and the queen piece is represented by a depiction of First Lady Michelle Obama (.d). The U.S. bishops are represented by depictions of prominent American figures, one is possibly President George W. Bush (.e) and the other is possibly President Theodore Roosevelt (.f).The U.S. rooks are represented by depictions of the Chrysler Building (.g) and the Empire State Building (.h). The knights are represented by a horse figure (.i-j). The blue pawns are figures of baseball players. Four have red hats and four have sea foam green hats (.k-r).
Russia is represented in the red pieces. The king piece is represented by a depiction of President Vladimir Putin (.s) and the queen piece is represented by a depiction of his former wife Lyudmila Shkrebneva (.t). The red bishops are represented by unknown Russian figures (.u-v). The red rooks are represented by traditional domes that can be seen in Eastern Orthodox church architecture (.w-x). The knights are represented by a horse figure (.y-z).The red pawns are figures of Russian soldiers with sage green hats that have red bands and gold embellishments (.aa-hh).
Custodial History / ProvenanceThis item was acquired personally by the donor and donated to the Obama Presidential Library in 2021.Additional Details
Credit LineGift of Sophie Brenner
National Archives Catalog CollectionBarack Obama Artifact Collection (National Archives Identifier 63542091)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPost Presidential Collection (National Archives Identifier 63542091)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - Possibly
Use Restriction NoteCopyright or other proprietary rights may be held by individuals or entities other than the Barack Obama Presidential Library. The Barack 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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