Capitalists vs Communists chess set

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

Chess set, is rife with the most beautiful art craft sculptures. I recall, seeing in a shop back in 1980s, a beautiful set of communism vs capitalism theme. where the capitalism king is skull king and queen is a voluptuous harlot. let me find it.

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Capitalists vs Communists chess set

Capitalists vs Communists chess set. Natalia and Yelena Danko, Lomonosov State Porcelain Factory, Leningrad, 1925. King 11.5 cm, Pawn 5.9 cm

〔image source https://chessantiques.com/product/soviet-propaganda-chess-set/

Soviet Propaganda Chess Set, Reds versus Whites

Offered here is a rare and historically important Soviet Propaganda Chess Set, also known as the Russian Reds versus Whites. The chess pieces are painted and gilt porcelain produced by the Lomonosov Factory in St. Petersburg. The King stands 4-3/8″ tall. The Soviet Propaganda Chess set is an example of the propaganda porcelain produced by the State Porcelain Factory soon after the establishment of communism in Russia in the years immediately following the 1917 Russian Revolution. The set was designed by two sisters who worked in the factory. Natalya Dan'ko formed the figures and Yelena Dan'ko painted them. The pieces are marked on their undersides with the Soviet hammer and sickle mark, adjacent stylized crown and the “D” monogram for Natalia Danko. This set is most likely second quarter twentieth century edition.

The chess set has two very distinct armies. On the Communist side, the King is a blacksmith holding a sledgehammer; the Queen, a peasant woman carrying sheaves of wheat adorned with stars; Bishops are Russian soldiers, Knights are horses, Rooks are horse-headed boats, and the Pawns are female reapers holding sickles and sheaves of wheat. On the Capitalist side: the King is represented as Death adorned with armor wearing an ermine-line cloak, the Queen, an allegory of Fortuna, holds a cornucopia brimming with gold coins; Bishops are officers of the Old Regime, Knights are horses, Rooks are boats with Pawns being suppressed workers or slaves bound in chains.

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Capitalists side
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Communists side

now, the etymology of harlot and voluptuous

etymology of harlot

c. 1200 (late 12c. in surnames), “vagabond, man of no fixed occupation, idle rogue,” from Old French herlot, arlot “vagabond, tramp, vagrant; rascal, scoundrel,” with cognates in Old Provençal (arlot), Old Spanish (arlote), and Italian (arlotto), but of unknown origin. Usually male in Middle English and Old French. Used in positive as well as pejorative senses by Chaucer; applied in Middle English to jesters, buffoons, jugglers, later to actors. Secondary sense of “prostitute, unchaste woman” probably had developed by 14c., certainly by early 15c., but this was reinforced by its use euphemistically for “strumpet, whore” in 16c. English translations of the Bible. The word may be Germanic, with an original sense of “camp follower,” if the first element is hari “army,” as some suspect.

2018-12-03 from https://www.etymonline.com/word/harlot

etymology of voluptuous

late 14c., “of or pertaining to desires or appetites,” from Old French voluptueux, volumptueuse and directly from Latin voluptuosus “full of pleasure, delightful,” from voluptas “pleasure, delight, enjoyment, satisfaction,” from volup “pleasurably,” perhaps ultimately related to velle “to wish,” from PIE *wel- (2) “to wish, will” (see will (v.)). Meaning “addicted to sensual pleasure” is recorded from mid-15c. Sense of “suggestive of sensual pleasure” is attested from 1816 (Byron); especially in reference to feminine beauty from 1839. Related: Voluptuously; voluptuousness.

2018-12-03 from https://www.etymonline.com/word/voluptuous

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Kings and Queens
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pawns
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knights
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rooks
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