Counter (Nine Men’s Morris or chess?)

• end of 12th century
• antlers
• Crivitz
• height: 2 cm

The small figure with a conical body on a round base has fine ornamental carved markings as round eyes and lines. It also has two small “ears” on its “head” that represent an animal symbol. They are actually two small horns. It is a chess figure in the form of a stylised elephant that has today been replaced by the bishop. The horns represent the elephant’s tusks. Chess and Nine Men’s Morris were known as games for the nobility during the German colonisation. These games of strategy came to northern Europe through trade relations and became widespread.