Chess Piece: Rook c. 19th century

This is a rook chess piece made of ceramic by the Wedgwood Manufactory. The tower motif carries a long history. As a symbol, towers have been used in many contexts, not only for defense. The tower, throughout time, has been represented with several meanings: from the Tower of Babel, representing communication, knowledge, and perhaps confusion, to the towers protecting medieval cities and, in fairy tales, holding princesses waiting to be rescued. The tower represents isolation and protection, ideas that have also been explored by artists across history. We find this concept in the work of Friedrich, with his solitary figures in landscapes, as well as in Munch’s figures, often conveying feelings of loneliness. The archetypal meaning of the tower has been constantly transformed as we explore the depths of human emotion.