🛒 Austin E. Cox for Alcoa — Aluminum Chess Set with Original Display Table, c. 1960s
Lot Title:
Austin E. Cox for Alcoa
Aluminum Chess Set with Original Display Table
USA, c. 1962–1967
Description:
Commissioned by the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) in the early 1960s, this sculptural chess set by designer Austin E. Cox exemplifies the material optimism and geometric purity of postwar American industrial design. The 32 cast aluminum pieces reinterpret traditional chess forms into minimalist, modernist silhouettes—each machined with architectural clarity and graphic simplicity.
This rare offering includes not only the complete original chess set, but also the matching metal display table—a component believed to have been fabricated for showroom or promotional use. The table’s clean lines and industrial materiality echo the set’s formal vocabulary, creating a cohesive environment where design, function, and exhibition converge.
While individual chess sets by Cox have surfaced on the market, complete ensembles including the original table remain exceptionally rare. This set likely formed part of a corporate display or trade fair installation, intended to showcase the elegance and adaptability of aluminum in modern living environments.
A museum-worthy piece of mid-century industrial history, offered here with its full sculptural impact intact.
Materials:
Cast aluminum (chess pieces), chrome or aluminum (table), possibly glass or metal top
Dimensions:
King height: approx. 2.5 in.
Pawn height: approx. 1.25 in.
Table: 23.5H × 21.25W × 21.25D
Provenance:
Private collection, USA
Condition:
Excellent vintage condition. Light surface wear to table and pieces consistent with age. Chess set is complete with 32 original pieces. Table structurally sound and visually cohesive with the set.
Lot Title:
Austin E. Cox for Alcoa
Aluminum Chess Set with Original Display Table
USA, c. 1962–1967
Description:
Commissioned by the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) in the early 1960s, this sculptural chess set by designer Austin E. Cox exemplifies the material optimism and geometric purity of postwar American industrial design. The 32 cast aluminum pieces reinterpret traditional chess forms into minimalist, modernist silhouettes—each machined with architectural clarity and graphic simplicity.
This rare offering includes not only the complete original chess set, but also the matching metal display table—a component believed to have been fabricated for showroom or promotional use. The table’s clean lines and industrial materiality echo the set’s formal vocabulary, creating a cohesive environment where design, function, and exhibition converge.
While individual chess sets by Cox have surfaced on the market, complete ensembles including the original table remain exceptionally rare. This set likely formed part of a corporate display or trade fair installation, intended to showcase the elegance and adaptability of aluminum in modern living environments.
A museum-worthy piece of mid-century industrial history, offered here with its full sculptural impact intact.
Materials:
Cast aluminum (chess pieces), chrome or aluminum (table), possibly glass or metal top
Dimensions:
King height: approx. 2.5 in.
Pawn height: approx. 1.25 in.
Table: 23.5H × 21.25W × 21.25D
Provenance:
Private collection, USA
Condition:
Excellent vintage condition. Light surface wear to table and pieces consistent with age. Chess set is complete with 32 original pieces. Table structurally sound and visually cohesive with the set.
Lot Title:
Austin E. Cox for Alcoa
Aluminum Chess Set with Original Display Table
USA, c. 1962–1967
Description:
Commissioned by the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) in the early 1960s, this sculptural chess set by designer Austin E. Cox exemplifies the material optimism and geometric purity of postwar American industrial design. The 32 cast aluminum pieces reinterpret traditional chess forms into minimalist, modernist silhouettes—each machined with architectural clarity and graphic simplicity.
This rare offering includes not only the complete original chess set, but also the matching metal display table—a component believed to have been fabricated for showroom or promotional use. The table’s clean lines and industrial materiality echo the set’s formal vocabulary, creating a cohesive environment where design, function, and exhibition converge.
While individual chess sets by Cox have surfaced on the market, complete ensembles including the original table remain exceptionally rare. This set likely formed part of a corporate display or trade fair installation, intended to showcase the elegance and adaptability of aluminum in modern living environments.
A museum-worthy piece of mid-century industrial history, offered here with its full sculptural impact intact.
Materials:
Cast aluminum (chess pieces), chrome or aluminum (table), possibly glass or metal top
Dimensions:
King height: approx. 2.5 in.
Pawn height: approx. 1.25 in.
Table: 23.5H × 21.25W × 21.25D
Provenance:
Private collection, USA
Condition:
Excellent vintage condition. Light surface wear to table and pieces consistent with age. Chess set is complete with 32 original pieces. Table structurally sound and visually cohesive with the set.