In a message dated 26/06/2007 18:06:42 GMT Standard Time, nabokv-l@UTK.EDU
writes:
What
may have influenced the association of red with black in chess is that, on the
old classic chessboards, the "dark" squares were often colored red, in
contrast to the neutral coloring of the "light" ones. Note that I speak of
boards, not of pieces. I still have the splendid Staunton championship set
that had originally belonged to my grandfather, and on which my father taught
me the rudiments of the game. The pieces, or men, are "white" (actually the
lacquered original light wood) and black, while the board -- whose base only
has been reinforced -- retains its pristine surface colors of light beige
leather and red.
Greetings,
DN
But it's also anyone's common experience of older (19th and earlier 20th
century) chess sets that the pieces are white, and extremely often red ---
especially if non-Staunton. Throughout Carroll's "Looking-Glass" we have a White
King and Queen, and a Red King and Queen. Although, if I remember correctly, the
Red Queen does turn into a black kitten at the end. Of course, it's bit
disconcerting that Charles Xavier's supporters are dressed in left-wing red, but
at the same time it's unlikely that the Shadows would be dressed in anything but
black (or grey?). Since chess sets appear in innumerable guises, no doubt one
could find one consisting of black and red pieces if one sought hard
enough.
Charles