the carved chess piece with elongated arabesques to front and back, old collection label to the underside

Ex-Collection F.R. Martin

overall in fine condition considering age. some cracking and minor abrasions to the surface, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The function of this particular chess piece would most likely have been the Queen or King given the similarities to those published in M. Eder, Bagdad-Bergkristall-Benediktiner Zum Ex-Oriente des Schachspiels, exhibition catalogue, Aachen, 2003, Abb. 16/Exp.14, pp.30-32. Other comparable ivory chess pieces can be found in the British Museum; Metropolitan Museum, New York and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. 

Chess pieces such as the present example, may possibly have been made in the Iraqi cities of Basra or Samarra, not only for themselves and their own market, but for the Fatimids of Egypt and Syria too. However, an unlocated piece bearing some similarities to the current example (but made of wood) has been attributed to Afghanistan during the 11th-12th century Ghazni period (see A. Contadini, 'Islamic Ivory Chess Pieces, Draughtsmen and Dice', in J.W. Allan (Ed.), Islamic Art in the Ashmolean, Oxford Studies in Islamic Art Vol.X, Part One, p.120, figure 11).