LittleHand has reached respectable levels of fame in the world of chess equipment. Dealing with the manufacture of such leisure stuff, the English artisans behind the brand rely on Marcel Duchamp’s motto: “Not all artisans are Chess players, but all Chess players are artists.”
The English firm has grown quite a lot, thanks to the enthusiasm and imagination of Steve Timms. His works are mostly based on historical facts and military adventures, resulting in gorgeously accurate recreations of battles like the one at Gettysburg or the Anglo-Zulu War. The last has been immortalized into the Anglo-Zulu War Chess Set which you’re now able to check up on Luxatic.
This limited edition cast bronze chess set depicts two battles of the Anglo-Zulu War, the Battle of Rorke’s Drift and the Battle of Isandlwana, which have taken place during the same fatidic day of Wednesday, the 22nd of January 1879. The model will reportedly be manufactured in just 250 copies, all of them being individually numbered and each pieces carefully finished by hand.
For example, the British Queen is played by Queen Victoria, the reigning British Monarch at the time of the Anglo Zulu Wars, while the British King is represented by a sculpture of Lord Chelmsford, the commander in charge of the invasion of Zululand.
In the opposing camp, the Zulu King is represented by King Cetshwayo. The name of the fellow means “the slandered one” in the Zulu language and he used to be King of the Zulu Nation during the Anglo-Zulu Wars. The Zulu Queen is superbly represented by Nomvimibi Msweli, seated on a small ceremonial stool.
If you want more from the guys, check out the Battle of Gettysburg Chess Set as well, manufactured by the same, acclaimed British brand. The gallery we’ve prepared for you is quite enticing, so check it up.
[LittleHand]
