Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-26
From the New York Sun.
The Testimonial to Paul Morphy.

The chess-board intended to be presented
to Paul Mcrphy, and to whom we alluded
some time since. is quite an object of vertu,
and has occupied experienced artisans six
weeks, one week being required for polish
ing alone. The body of the board is of rose
wood. 1t is a square OF twenty-siX inches,
built in panels, so that the contraction and
expansion caused by heat and dampness can
not effect the truth OF the chequcr portion.
Around the board runs slightly raised edge.
ornamentcd by two delicate lines of inlaid
silver. The border between the edge and the
squares is about three inches wide. Close
to the edge, three lines of inlaid silver. one
heavy between two very light ones, relieve
the sombre effect of the rosewood. The
squares are enclosed in frame formed 10y
four tournament lances of inlaid silver;
handsomely engraved proper.
The chess men to be used on this board are
worthy companions for it, They are of solid
gold and silver ard contain nearly one
thousand dollars worth OF pure metal. The
King of the gold men is an elegant sIatuette,
dressed in royal robes, with ball on his
head, and a royal crown aud sceptre at his
feet. The piece is four inches high, and
weighs two ounces. The Queen is also a
statuette, in royal raiment nicely engraved,
and has a crown at her feet. She Is
three inches and three-quarters high,
and weighs nearly as much as the King.
The Bishops are excellent specimens of the
fighting preates of the time when the shep-
herds who grasped the Episcopal crosicr also
donned the helmet, aud went to the wars like
temporal princes at the head OF the Church's
doughty warriors. These representatives, of
the church Militant are spirited Statuettes.
three inches and half high, clad in full
armor. with drawn double edged Roman
swords in the act of shifting. The knights
are statuettes of horses, full figures, rearing
on ths hind legs. They are three and u half
inches high, are beautifully shaded, and are
provided with sparkling ruby eyes. The
rocks are figures of stately elephants, covered
with tiger skins, aud furnished with castles,
on the battlements of which American eagles
are lust spreading their pinions; both elephants
and eagles are well sculpured, and have
ewes of rubies The Rocks are three inches
aud three quarters high. and weigh five ounces.
The Pawns are Roman soldiers, in full armor
with drawn sword inright hand aud shield in
LETT. They are two inches high, and weigh
ounces The pedestals of all the pieces are
handsomely engraved, and the feet are Of fine
cornelian-oval, one inch and halt in the
largest sdiameter for the main pieces; and
circular one inch in diameter for the pawns.
The silver men differ slightly from the gold
men. The King is the same size AS the gold
King, but represents = belligerent monarch
at the head OF his army; he is clad in full
armor with winged helmet on his head,
long crusaders shield. bearing the motto,
Liberty ON his left arm, and long, shnrp
sword frinly grasped in his right hand. His
crown aud sceptre is at his feet. The Queen
is in ermne robes, aud has also crown at
her feet. The Bishops, like the gold Bishops,
are warriors OF renown, bus OF different
pattern. carrying longer swords. and wearing
winged helmets. The Knights and Rocks
| are of abe came pattern as the other pieces.
The Pawns are statuettes OF barbaiic warriors,
dressed ia bulls bids, wearing the horns on
their heads. and with both hands grasping
formidable looking bludgeons. ~ il on the
point of Draining the little fellows with the
short swords, on the other side. Conception
of the figures is very good, and the design is
exeelienily carried cat IN all of them. The
testimonial-men aud board-as the hRest
produc tion OF the kind ever attempted in this
country. deserves unqualified commentator.
The men are eSelosrd la substantial Turkey
morocco eass. each peiee having velvet
socket made TOR IL.