Bauhaus Chessmen

The Bauhaus Chessmen, designed by Josef Hartwig all the way back in 1923, are a great example about minimalism and simplicity in design, but above all a perfect example of applied symbolism.

Each piece is shaped as a combination of cubes, cylinders and balls, representing the way they move on the board. For example, the queen is shaped with a big cube with a ball on representing it can move on any direction.

Another touch of minimalism: the board itself does not have a frame: it’s just the checked field.

The Bauhaus Chessmen is part of the MoMA Collection.

  1. John
    01.09.10 18:20

    very cool stuff!

  2. manuel
    01.09.10 22:07

    i want it.. very interesting idea…

  3. Adrian
    02.09.10 02:29

    Whoa, this is incredible!

  4. Alberto
    02.09.10 03:10

    Awesome!!! I want it

  5. Laurel Zhang
    03.09.10 08:29

    Dear Sir:

    It’s great to know you.

    I am Laurel, contributing editor of surface magazine CHINA. Surface is an American design, fashion, and lifestyle magazine based in Los Angeles. Its Chinese issue launched in Beijing in Nov, 2008, that’s us.

    We saw the Bauhaus Chessmen, designed by Josef Hartwig and we love it very much. So would you mind sending me couples of high-res images as soon as possible then we could introduce it our up-coming issue.

    We are looking forward to hearing from you.

    Best regards
    Laurel Zhang

    Surface China
    Room 2011, building 3, area A-4, Av. Fuchengmenwai 34, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037, P.R. CHINA
    Tel-86-010-68573487
    Mob-86-13810536697
    Surface US-www.surfacemag.com
    Surface China- http://www.surface-china.cn

  6. Sekto
    07.09.10 17:36

    Excelso diseño… para los amantes del ajedrez y el minimalismo. ¡Wow!