Chess Queen c. 12th century

Curator: Here we have a small sculpture from an unidentified maker, titled "Chess Queen," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels primal, almost elemental, doesn't it? Carved from earth, the rough texture and compact form are immediately striking. Curator: Indeed. The queen’s regal authority is softened by the figures clustered around her, evoking notions of motherhood and community. How might that be understood in relation to power structures? Editor: Let’s consider the labor involved. The carving itself, the material’s source, the tools used. Was this piece created by someone within or outside the elite circles it might represent? Curator: These are key questions to explore, especially considering the absence of a known artist. Who shapes these narratives of power, and whose stories are left untold? Editor: Examining the process reveals so much about the social and political climate in which it was created. Curator: Precisely, it calls us to question the very construction of history, and what it obscures. Editor: A potent reminder that even small objects hold vast histories.