Named after Pedro Damiano, the Portuguese apothecary who authored the influential 1512 manual Questo Libro e da Imparare Giocare a Scacchi, this set represents a significant transitional moment in chess design. The pieces bridge the gap between early symbolic forms and modern representation. While the Kings and Queens feature elegant turned tiers and the Knights are depicted as carved horse heads, the Rooks and Bishops still echo their medieval predecessors. Specifically, the Rook retains the abstract silhouette of the ancient war chariot, a form that would soon evolve into the modern castle tower.
Damiano’s treatise was the first bestseller of the modern era, establishing fundamental standards such as the requirement for a white square to be on the player’s right. His timeless advice, “If you see a good move, find a better one,” reflects the intellectual depth he brought to the game. This set serves as a visual record of the 16th-century evolution that transformed ancient shatranj into the international sport of the modern world.
