Made in Italy. Superb detail. Beautifully crafted. 3.25 inch King. Perfect for a 15.75 inch board. THE PIECES Another excellent set of quality pieces by the renowned Italfama of Italy. None other than King Arthur leads his army in this beautiful set of quality chessmen. Looking very regal in his crown and cloak, he is supported by his beautiful wife, Guinevere who is adorned in a long flowing white gown. Merlin is easily recognisable as the bishop with his long flowing robes, grey beard and staff. Passelande, cloaked in the kings colours, depicts the knight with Camelot standing as the rook. The army of pawns are depicted by an armoured Sir Lancelot. King Lot heads his troops supported by his wife Morgause. This beautiful lady is not only the king\'s wife but also Arthur\'s half sister and mother to Mordred by none other than King Arthur ! Mordred plays a more menacing bishop on this field with a steed cloaked in the king\'s colours and a turreted castle depitcts the rook, this army is backed by Melehan, son of Mordred, representing the pawns. For these outstanding chess men, we would recommend a board of approximately 16 inches. Our 15.75 inch walnut and maple board matches these pieces beautifully and makes up the King Arthur Hand Painted Chess Set. THE HISTORY King Arthur is a legendary Britsh leader who, according to romances and medieval histories, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries AD. The details of Arthur\'s story are mainly composed of folklore, and his historical existence is disputed and debated modern historians. King Arthur\'s horses were named Llamrei and Hengroen. Later, French sources call his horse Passelande. Although gleaned from various sources, the historical background of Arthur is sparse. Guinevere was the wife of this legendary leader. In medieval romances, one of the most prominent stories is Queen Guinevere\'s love affair with Lancelot, her husband\'s chief knight. A legendary figure best known as the wizard in Arthurian history, is a mixture of previous historical and legendary figures. Geoffrey of Monmouth who wrote Historia Regum Britanniae in c. 1136, combined Myrddin Wylt with Ambrosius Aurelianus to form the character we know as Merlin. He is allegedly burued in the Broceliande Forest in Brittany In the Authurian Legend, Sir Lancelot was one of the Knights of the Round Table and he typically features as not only the Kings greatest companion but as the lord of Joyous Gard together with being the greatest swordsman and jouster of that age. Following the discovery of his affair with Guinevere, civil war breaks out bringing about the end of Arthur\'s kingdom. Lot was chiefly King of Lothian but some sources say that he also ruled Orkney and Norway. He is also depicted as the husband of Arthur\'s sister or half sister who was variously named Anna or Morgause. Mordred is known as a notorious traitor who fought against Arthur at the Battle of Camlann. Modred was killed and Arthur fatally wounded. Sadly Mordred was Arthur\'s illegimate son by his half-sister Morgause (wife of King Lot).