The chess board is presented on a table made by the artist in collaboration with Jean-Michel Frank in the 1920s, with a hand-engraved text on the frame of the table; at the end of the table are two chests lined with red velvet which serve to store pieces. Man Ray, like Marcel Duchamp, has always been fascinated by chess. He made several projects for the piece in the 1920s and finally succeeded in making the board in 1962. Inscribed “Man Ray” and numbered (on the white king); the chess board perimeter is inlaid with the artist’s poem in French, specially composed by Man Ray in 1962 for this edition and inlaid with his facsimile handwriting.

The first study of 1920 was used by Marcel Duchamp, Gerard Richter, Max Ernst and several other important members of the Dada movement. This work will be shown at the fair together with a collection of vintage chess gelatin silver prints and designs for chess pieces by Man Ray. There are also 5 copies fired in sterling silver.

Inscription on the chess board:
“le Roi est à moi
la Reine est la Tienne
la Tour Fait un four
le Fou est comme vous
le Cavalier déraille
le Pion fait l’espion
comme toute canaille
Fait de toutes pièces”