{"id":16380,"date":"2009-09-28T17:35:37","date_gmt":"2009-09-29T01:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.originalprop.com\/blog\/?p=16380"},"modified":"2009-10-05T20:25:45","modified_gmt":"2009-10-06T04:25:45","slug":"chess-pieces-from-ingmar-bergmans-the-seventh-seal-sold-by-bukowskis-in-sweden-for-144000-today-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.originalprop.com\/blog\/2009\/09\/28\/chess-pieces-from-ingmar-bergmans-the-seventh-seal-sold-by-bukowskis-in-sweden-for-144000-today-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Chess Pieces from Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal” Sold by Bukowskis in Sweden for $144,000 Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Assets from legendary filmmaker Ingmar Bergman’s estate were auctioned today by Bukowskis in Sweden<\/a> (as previously reported, see Personal Property & Memorabilia of Legendary Filmmaker Ingmar Bergman to be Auctioned in Stockholm, Sweden<\/a>). <\/p>\n

While the majority of the items represented personally owned furniture, artwork, and other personal belongings, there was one lot which contained what the auction house believed was “probably” the chess pieces used in the most well-known of all Bergman films, The Seventh Seal<\/em>. It realized a price of 1,000,000.00 SEK (about $144,000.00 U.S.).<\/p>\n

This sale follows Mr. Bergmans passing in 2007<\/a>, with personal property from his homes in Sweden.<\/p>\n

Bergman has long been one of my favorite filmmakers, so I was personally interested in learning more about Lot 270, “A SET OF 31 PLASTER AND WOODEN CHESSPIECES”. Particularly, if they were indeed “the” set used in the famous film, representing some of the most iconic images in film history. As such, they represent one of the most important original prop artifacts to be offered to market this year.<\/p>\n

\"Ingmar-Bergman-The-Seventh-Seal-Criterion-Collection-Blu-Ray-Disc-1080p-Screencapture-1920x1080-001<\/a><\/p>\n

Auction House Bukowskis marketed this lot from their auction as “[p]robably the same set that was used in “The Seventh Seal” from 1957<\/em>“. They were kind enough to provide me with some very high resolution images of each of the pieces weeks in advance of the sale.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, The Seventh Seal<\/em> happens to be the only Bergman film released in Blu-Ray Disc format, courtesy of Criterion.<\/p>\n

In carefully reviewing the high definition, 1080p (1980×1020) Blu-Ray version of the film, frame by frame, I was able to “screen-match” many of the pieces of the set offered at auction today, which sold for 1,000,000.00 SEK (about $144,000.00 U.S.).<\/p>\n

\"Ingmar-Bergman-Auction-Live-Video-Feed-Screencapture-Chess-Pieces-Final<\/p>\n

Image from Live Video Feed of the Sale of the Pieces<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The details of the lot can be found at the official auction site (Lot 270<\/a>):<\/p>\n

\"Bukowskis-Lot-270-A-Set-of-31-Plaster-and-Wooden-Chesspieces-Auction-Archive<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The official Bukowskis auction catalog listing included more details:<\/p>\n

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\"Burkowskis-Ingmar-Bergman-Catalog-Seventh-Seal-Chess-Pieces-Page-2-x800<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Below are example images from the superb hardcover version of the actual auction catalog (click each image for higher resolution):<\/p>\n

\"Bukowskis-Ingmar-Bergman-Auction-Catalog-01<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Bukowskis-Ingmar-Bergman-Auction-Catalog-02<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Bukowskis-Ingmar-Bergman-Auction-Catalog-03<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Bukowskis-Ingmar-Bergman-Auction-Catalog-04<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\"Bukowskis-Ingmar-Bergman-Auction-Catalog-06<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Bukowskis-Ingmar-Bergman-Auction-Catalog-07<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Bukowskis-Ingmar-Bergman-Auction-Catalog-08<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As an aside, the catalog is beautiful and a wonderful keepsake in and of itself – Bukowskis published a fantastic volume. The hardcover edition is limited to 500 numbered copies. If either edition may still be available from Bukowskis, it is highly recommended: www.bukowskis.se<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Blu-Ray Disc Analysis – Chess Pieces from The Seventh Seal<\/h3>\n

In my analysis, I was able to match, to varying degrees, at least six of the custom wood and plaster chess pieces – the Black King, the Black Queen, one Black Rook, one White Rook and both White Bishops.<\/p>\n

Analysis was of course limited by the angles, lighting, camera distance, and resolution of the pieces as seen in the three separate scenes in the film, The Seventh Seal<\/em>, which featured the chess game between Max von Sydow (as Antonius Block) and Bengt Ekerot (as Death).<\/p>\n

Below are some example high definition, 1080p screencaptures from the Criterion Blu-Ray Disc of The Seventh Seal<\/em> (click any image for full resolution):<\/p>\n

\"Ingmar-Bergman-The-Seventh-Seal-Criterion-Collection-Blu-Ray-Disc-1080p-Screencapture-1920x1080-002<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Ingmar-Bergman-The-Seventh-Seal-Criterion-Collection-Blu-Ray-Disc-1080p-Screencapture-1920x1080-003<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Ingmar-Bergman-The-Seventh-Seal-Criterion-Collection-Blu-Ray-Disc-1080p-Screencapture-1920x1080-004<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Ingmar-Bergman-The-Seventh-Seal-Criterion-Collection-Blu-Ray-Disc-1080p-Screencapture-1920x1080-005<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Ingmar-Bergman-The-Seventh-Seal-Criterion-Collection-Blu-Ray-Disc-1080p-Screencapture-1920x1080-006<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Ingmar-Bergman-The-Seventh-Seal-Criterion-Collection-Blu-Ray-Disc-1080p-Screencapture-1920x1080-007<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Ingmar-Bergman-The-Seventh-Seal-Criterion-Collection-Blu-Ray-Disc-1080p-Screencapture-1920x1080-008<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Ingmar-Bergman-The-Seventh-Seal-Criterion-Collection-Blu-Ray-Disc-1080p-Screencapture-1920x1080-009<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Below is a number of direct comparisons I made between specific pieces from the set offered at auction by Bukowskis with pieces seen on screen in the film, The Seventh Seal<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Click any image compilation below for higher resolution (which have actually been resized down from my working images for quicker loading – actual analysis at significantly higher resolution).<\/p>\n

One interesting aspect of the chess pieces offered at auction is that the White King is actually missing. Though it is actually somewhat fitting, when reflecting back on the actual film narrative, it does appear that the White King was damaged during filming. With the final chess-related scene, Max von Sydow pretends to accidentally knock the pieces over (once he realizes he will lose).<\/p>\n

In studying the film, following that action, one of the two chair tops on the White King piece is broken off and missing (see two White King screencaptures in the top left of the first compilation below).<\/p>\n

\"Bukowskis-Seventh-Seal-Chess-Pieces-Auction-Original-Prop-King-Comparison-1<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Though the White King is missing, in studying the images from the film, it is obvious that there are significant differences between the White King and the Black King:<\/p>\n