Anri Universum c1967-79

The Anri Universum ("The Space-Age Chessmen")  is one of those sets which I had wanted for a long while - being a "space scientist" by training, it seemed a very apt set to acquire. A collector friend had a couple of Universums, and suggested a trade for one of my Jaques bone sets.  The deal was done, my first chess set swap, and a win-win for me and my friend!

The pieces represent various space tech:

The King = Space Station "Like the all-important king it has little mobility"

The Queen = Space Ship "Like the queen, it can go anywhere"

The Knight = Satellite "It hurtles through space, as the horseman vaulted across the landscape"

The Bishop = Missile "It slashes across the board, as did the bishop"

The Rook = Radar "Like the tower, the radar watches and protects"

The Pawn = Rocket "It defends and attacks at close range, like the pawn"

The sets were produced between 1958 and 1982, designed by US artist Arthur Elliot (1913-1983) (an early Disney animator (he worked on the 1942 film, Bambi!)  and product designer) for Anri. Elliot had moved to Italy in 1957, so it didn't take him long to have found this commission with Anri! Walnut and Maple wood, kings 4.08".