Wings of the North: chess made from mammoth ivory by the Sardaana factory (USSR). Handmade by Yakut craftsmen. (Certificate of authenticity)

The king’s height is 3.7 cm.
The diameter of the king’s base is 1.5 cm.
The pawn’s height is 2.6 cm.
The diameter of the pawn’s base is 1.5 cm.
The board size is 20×20 cm.
The playing field size is 17×17 cm.
The cell size is 2 cm.
Here you have a collectible chess set, made in a unique style: the pieces are stylized as birds, and the material used is mammoth tusk. The set was produced at the Sardaana Yakut Factory of Artistic Crafts and Souvenirs during the Soviet era — it is a vivid example of the synthesis of chess aesthetics and the traditions of the Yakut bone‑carving school.

Material and technique. Mammoth tusk is a rare and valuable material: it is distinguished by a characteristic patina, a warm creamy hue, and a special texture. The craftsmen of Sardaana were skilled in fine carving techniques that allowed them to convey the finest details of plumage and the facial expressions of “bird” characters.
Artistic image. Instead of the classic kings and queens, there are owls, eagles, crows, and other birds: this approach reflects the connection with the northern nature and mythology of Yakutia. For example, the owl is often interpreted as

The significance of the certificate

In Soviet times, such documents served as official confirmation of the authenticity and origin of expensive materials (in this case, mammoth ivory).

About the Sardaana factory

The Yakut factory “Sardaana” (now the Joint‑Stock Company of Art Crafts “Sardaana”) was founded in 1969 and became one of the main centres for the preservation and development of folk art crafts in Yakutia. During the Soviet era, the enterprise brought together bone‑carvers, jewelers, and furriers, and the factory’s products were regularly exhibited at all‑Union and international exhibitions. Carving on mammoth ivory is one of the key areas of “Sardaana”: the craftsmen used traditional techniques and at the same time developed new decorative solutions, including themed series of souvenirs and game sets.

Collectible and cultural value

Rarity. Today, such chess pieces are considered rare: due to the labor‑intensive nature of handcrafting and the limited production run, relatively few copies have survived.
Artistic value. The set is an example of an author’s reinterpretation of classical forms: it combines the utilitarian nature of the game with the expressiveness of decorative and applied art.
Ethnographic interest. The chess pieces reflect regional traditions of bone working and the characteristics of northern artistic thinking, where images of birds and animals carry deep symbolic meaning.