The metal Tuvinian chess in the National Museum of the Tuva Republic

Abstract

The article provides a culturological analysis of the evolution of the Tuvinian chess and of the methods of their manufacturing. It is argued that the Tuvinian art castings including metal chess have preserved the traditions of the Scythian and Siberian animal style. The methods of manufacturing and decorating the Tuvinian chess pieces refer to the motives, techniques and design solutions elaborated at the time of the Karasuk culture (13–11 centuries BC) and developed at the time of khereksurs (surface monuments of stones) and deer stones (megaliths carved with symbols) (10–9 centuries BC), and in the Scythian epoch (8–3 centuries BC). The art molding of chess pieces from metals and alloys involved representing them as realistic, mythic and fantastic animals. This animal style proves the successiveness of the traditions since the epoch of paleometal.