‘Marostica’ chessboard in sterling silver, jasper and moss agate, 1990s

The chessboard is inspired by the Partita a Scacchi di Marostica, a biennial historical reenactment held in the Piazza degli Scacchi (Piazza Castello) in Marostica, in the province of Vicenza. The Live Chess Game stages a legend set in 1454: two young nobles vie for the hand of Lionora, the castellan’s daughter—not through a duel, but through a noble game of chess. The modern event, formalized in the 1950s by set designer Mario Mirko Vucetich, features hundreds of costumed performers, processions, choreographies, and a chess match enacted on a monumental marble chessboard. Considered one of Italy’s most renowned historical reenactments, it takes place on the second weekend of September in even-numbered years.

Created by Microbas, a company specializing in lost-wax casting, the chessboard was richly modeled using this ancient technique, involving extensive hand-finishing.
The bases of the chess pieces derive from models designed by sculptor Federico Monti (1836–1910) and are executed in sterling silver.
The squares of the chessboard are made of red jasper and moss agate, stones selected for their vivid color contrast, echoing the hues of the marble in Marostica’s historic square.
The chessboard was produced in a limited edition of only 54 examples, a number chosen as a symbolic reference to the year in which Marostica’s famous chessboard was laid.

It is accompanied by a cherry-wood case, inspired by 14th-century Italian craftsmanship and embellished with studs and clasps in sterling silver.

All pieces are hallmarked “925 – *1852 VI”, corresponding to Microbas srl, Via Gaetano Zancon 5, 36061 Bassano del Grappa (VI).

Chessboard dimensions: 5.5 x 40.5 x 40.5 cm
Chess piece height: 5-7 cm
Chessboard weight: approx. 5600 g
Chess piece weight: approx. 2300 g
Box dimensions: 15 x 43.5 x 43.5 cm
Total weight: approx. 14 kg