Chess games are usually made of wood, plastic, marble, etc. However, Mexican sculptor Armando Ramierz has created what he calls his ‘Rustic Warriors’ chess set produced from reclaimed used auto parts. For example, the queen comes from electrical-system components, the bishops from discarded spark plugs and the castles and pawns from various cogwheels. The board itself resonates with metal-on-metal sounds as the pieces are moved around the surface. Each set is unique and buyers are reminded that the game’s industrial-like design includes plenty of scratches, smudges and general discoloration. Ramirez sells his Rustic Warriors chess set for about $240 through online resellers such as the National Geographic’s Web site, www.novica.com.
