Isamu Noguchi Chess Set by IC Design

Isamu Noguchi’s lost 1944 chess set, re-made in Perspex with a folding black board, in collaboration with the Noguchi Museum.

This set re-creates the chess pieces Isamu Noguchi made for the 1944 Imagery of Chess exhibition in New York, organized by Julien Levy with Marcel Duchamp and Max Ernst. The pieces are notched-together planes of translucent red and green Perspex; the folding board is black Perspex with red and translucent white circular inlays in place of squares. The king is 3 inches tall and the board measures 22 × 24 inches. Made in Switzerland.

Wartime scarcity pushed Noguchi to build fully three-dimensional figures from thin interlocking planes of Plexiglas, then a new material. He chose translucent red and green to recall the rubies and emeralds of Mughal jewelry, and modeled his board on Indian and Persian lacquered boards with round inlays. The originals are lost; the Noguchi Museum and its partners researched materials for years before producing this edition.

Specifications

• Brand: IC Design (Zurich)
• Model: Isamu Noguchi Chess Set
• Designer: Isamu Noguchi, 1944
• Materials: Pieces: Perspex plexiglass (translucent red and green, as shown); board: folding black Perspex with red and translucent white circular inlays marking the squares
• Largest piece: King, H 3"
• Board: 22" × 24", folding
• Edition: New edition produced with the Noguchi Museum
• Made in: Switzerland
• Item number (MPN): IC-NOGCHSS

Features

• Pieces: Perspex plexiglass (translucent red and green, as shown); board: folding black Perspex with red and translucent white circular inlays marking the squares
• Designed by Isamu Noguchi (1944)
• Made in Switzerland
• IC Design edition

Best for

Collectors of mid-century art and design, coffee tables, studies and gifts for chess lovers. Also from IC Design: Man Ray Chess Set with Board, Man Ray Chess Board, Man Ray Chess Pieces.

Who this is not for

• Players who want standard Staunton pieces: this is an artist’s design with unconventional shapes.
• Anyone who needs it within a day or two: it ships in 2–3 business days.
• Shoppers looking for a mass-produced lookalike: this is a licensed IC Design edition, and the details reflect that.

Why we carry it

We’ve been curating design-led pieces since 2009. IC Design is the Zurich company behind licensed re-editions of 20th-century artist and designer objects, made with museums, estates and foundations.

Buy once: durability and care

Our advice: dust with a soft, dry cloth and keep it out of direct sun and away from water.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Isamu Noguchi Chess Set?

22" × 24", folding.

What is the Isamu Noguchi Chess Set made of?

Pieces: Perspex plexiglass (translucent red and green, as shown); board: folding black Perspex with red and translucent white circular inlays marking the squares. Made in Switzerland.

Is the Isamu Noguchi Chess Set complete and ready to play?

Yes: the Perspex pieces and the folding Perspex board.

How do I care for the Isamu Noguchi Chess Set?

Our advice: dust with a soft, dry cloth and keep it out of direct sun and away from water.

How fast does the Isamu Noguchi Chess Set ship?

Ships in 2–3 business days.

Gifting & trade orders

Buying several as gifts, or for a shop, museum store or interior project? Contact us for quantities.

Trade pricing for design professionals

Interior designers, architects, contractors and builders can apply to the MetropolitanDecor Trade Program for trade pricing on IC Design and the rest of our catalog, a dedicated trade support line, and free catalogs and finish swatches. Applying takes about three minutes; our trade team reviews every application personally, usually within one business day. Furnishing a hotel suite, a children’s space or a shop display? Contact us with items and quantities and we’ll confirm availability.

Shipping & returns

Ships in 2–3 business days.

Orders over $100 ship free by ground to the 48 contiguous states. All sales are final, so check the size and specifications above before ordering; if your order arrives damaged or isn’t what you ordered, contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photos and we’ll make it right.

Please note: Because this item is made to order or specially sourced, it is final sale.