The box that the craftsmen of Tula presented to Empress Catherine II in the 1780s contained chessmen. There were eighty pieces. The craftsmen revealed their skill in the decoration of the pieces as well as the box. The chessmen are truly fine precision work - certain details are only visible through a magnifying-glass. Forty-four of these pieces have survived down to the present day. The king, queen and pawns resemble little towers of different shape with domes and spires.