Vintage ANRI Space Age Chess Set Designed by Elliott, Walnut, Maple 1950's Italy, With Board

Offered here is a strikingly modern Anri Space Age Chess Set, also known as Universum, housed in a finely crafted wooden case with two fitted compartments to secure the chessmen. The case measures 11″ long x 3 1/4″ tall x 7 1/2″ wide. The King stands 4″ tall. The bases are lightly weighted and the pieces rest atop a cushion of brown felt. Board is 15"x 15".

The pieces in the Anri Space Age Chess Set are abstract representations of Space Stations, Spaceships, Missiles, Rockets, Satellites and Radar. The finely hand carved Anri Space Age Chess pieces are crafted from kiln-dried White Maple and Black Walnut. The chessmen were designed by U.S. artist Arthur Elliott, who also worked as an early animator for Disney Studios. Anri chessmen are 100% made in Italy for those who can appreciate the true value of these magnificent artistic chessmen. 

In 1912 Josef Anton Riffeser founded the ANRI Company, which he named using the first two letters of his first and last name. After World War I, where he was in a prisoner of war camp in Siberia, he formulated his plan for a woodcarving company. He created his own models which he distributed successfully.