Anri Universum 1958-1967

My second Anri Universum ("The Space-Age Chessmen") - this one is housed in the Anri card box (which is remarkably sturdy).  The logo design indicates that this set is slightly earlier than my other set - though I think likely within a few years of each other.

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 4.1".