Napoleonic Chess Set: Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812

While Napoleonic-themed chess sets are popular worldwide, in Russia, they often reference the history of the War of 1812. Porcelain chess pieces made at the Gregory Pashkov workshop not only depict the uniforms of the time but also the portraits of key figures from the epic battle.According to ancient Russian chess tradition, the king is flanked not by the queen but by the “vizier,” his chief advisor. Thus, we see the wise Prince Kutuzov next to Emperor Alexander I, and Marshal Davoust next to Napoleon. History enthusiasts will easily recognize figures like the passionate Bagration, the vigilant Barclay, the brilliant Marshal Murat, and Marshal Ney, “the Red Lion of France.” Additionally, the sets feature the distinctive shakos of the Russian guard and the bearskin hats of Napoleon’s Old Guard.These chess sets serve as a fascinating, glittering, and multicolored decoration for Tolstoy’s War and Peace.