“The Rook” is a large scale equine chess piece, intended as a speculative precursor to a full landscape art installation: an entire chess set of monumental equine pieces. To ensure each piece was adorned and posed to represent traditional chess pieces, the sculptor needed to couple their creativity and experience with familiarization of the game of chess. There is no artist better suited for this project than world-renowned sculptor, Andy Scott.

Andy Scott has completed more than 80 projects scattered throughout the world. He works in steel and bronze, combining figurative and equine themes with contemporary techniques to create stunning landmark artworks. His most prominent project to date is The Kelpies, a pair of 100-ft tall, 300-ton horse heads, sited in Falkirk, Scotland.

Although huddled in the corners of the chess board, methodical development of one's rooks can lead to great success. Commonly referred to as the castle or tower, the rook was actually intended to emulate a chariot- a valuable piece, exceptional at traveling quickly in one direction but unable to turn. When designing “The Rook,” Andy called on his extensive experience sculpting various horse breeds to produce a masterwork encapsulating the essence of this chess piece.

Once the sculpture was designed, a coating system needed to be specified to protect it from corrosion. The beauty of hot-dip galvanizing is well-known to Andy. He has utilized this coating method on several previous projects with satisfying results. Artists rely on strong coating systems to preserve their creations without comprising the overall design or aesthetic. The minimal environmental impact of hot-dip galvanizing allows artists to elongate the lifespan of sculptures with a level of sustainability unfounded with other protection systems. Without second thoughts, Andy elected to use a combination of galvanized and powder coated steel for “The Rook.”

Hot-dip galvanizing “The Rook” was a delicate process. The intricate design featured a horse head made from plate, a feather crown made from flat bar, a base made from plate and beams, and a cover made from plate. Heightened attention to handling was an absolute necessity to ensure the unique shape and design remained flawless through final delivery.

The completed sculpture stands 14 feet tall on its plinth and the galvanized coating provides a prestigious aesthetic. Standing on display, “The Rook” is motivating personal and private clients to request tailor-made chess sculptures inspired by their own horse or equine pursuits. As it continues to be specified by some of the most distinguished artists around the world, hot-dip galvanizing will continue to play an important role in protecting their publically displayed and highly visible sculptures.