AMERICAN (Cleveland, OH); ca. 1944

128A. Reynard the Fox. Pottery, glazed polychrome: cream vs. brown. King 4-1/2" H. Mark: "Moss" molded into base of major pieces.

Reynard the Fox is the trickster hero of the great medieval beast epic Roman de Renart. He is the clever, immoral rebel against authority, a coward, a seducer, a liar, and a traitor. His story is told in many forms, from the beast fables of the classical period through the poems of beasts who acted and thought as human beings, to the most famous, Goethe's version, published in 1792.

In this chess set King Nobel, the lion is the chess King and the Queen is a coy lioness. Reynard, disguised as an owl, serves for the Bishop; rearing horses for the Knights; shells with crenelated crowns for the Rooks; and a varied assortment of animals, such as badgers, hares, rams, etc. for the Pawns. Chessmen are set on poker chip bases.
Gift of Ruth Mielziner Moss, in memory of her father, Benjamin C. Mielziner, ca. 1944.