Five chesspieces of walrus ivory

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These are some of the 'Lewis Chesspieces', the largest and finest group of early chessmen to survive. Discovered in 1831 at Uig Bay on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, the hoard is known to have contained 78 walrus ivory chesspieces. The pieces were made in Scandinavia. The group is known as 'The Lewis Chessmen.'

The figures are (left to right) a bishop, king, berserker, queen, berserker. Each figure has been individually crafted using fine chisels, knives and files. Some pieces were coloured red, probably using madder, a widely available vegetable dye.

Walrus ivory was once much prized by royalty and the Church in northern Europe. It was carved in a few specialist workshops which thrived from the mid 10th to the early 13th centuries.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-117-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.NS 29
• Date: Late 12th century
  Late 12th century
  Late 12th century
  Late 12th century
  Late 12th century
  Late 12th century
  Late 12th century
  Late 12th century
  Second half of the 12th century
  
• Material: Walrus ivory
  Walrus ivory
  Walrus ivory
  Walrus ivory
  Walrus ivory
  Walrus ivory
  Walrus ivory
  Walrus ivory
  Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  
• Dimensions: 60 - 100 mm H
  60 - 100 mm H
  60 - 100 mm H
  60 - 100 mm H
  60 - 100 mm H
  60 - 100 mm H
  60 - 100 mm H
  60 - 100 mm H
  
• What: Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  Chessman
  
• Subject: Sports (NMAS Classification)
  Sports (NMAS Classification)
  Sports (NMAS Classification)
  Sports (NMAS Classification)
  Sports (NMAS Classification)
  Sports (NMAS Classification)
  Sports (NMAS Classification)
  Sports (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Uig
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Uig
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Uig
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Uig
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Uig
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Uig
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Uig
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Uig
  
• Event:
• Description: Chesspiece of walrus ivory, a king, found in an underground chamber in the parish of Uig, Lewis in 1831: Scandinavian in origin, late 12th century
  Chesspiece of walrus ivory, a queen, found in an underground chamber in the parish of Uig, Lewis in 1831: Scandinavian in origin, late 12th century
  Chesspiece of walrus ivory, a queen, found in an underground chamber in the parish of Uig, Lewis in 1831: Scandinavian in origin, late 12th century
  Chesspiece of walrus ivory, a bishop, found in an underground chamber in the parish of Uig, Lewis in 1831: Scandinavian in origin, late 12th century
  Chesspiece of walrus ivory, a bishop, found in an underground chamber in the parish of Uig, Lewis in 1831: Scandinavian in origin, late 12th century
  Chesspiece of walrus ivory, a knight, found in an underground chamber in the parish of Uig, Lewis in 1831: Scandinavian in origin, late 12th century
  Chesspiece of walrus ivory, a berserker, found in an underground chamber in the parish of Uig, Lewis in 1831: Scandinavian in origin, late 12th century
  Chesspiece of walrus ivory, a berserker, found in an underground chamber in the parish of Uig, Lewis in 1831: Scandinavian in origin, late 12th century
  
• References:
  • 'The Lewis Chesspieces' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Taylor, M. The Lewis Chessmen. London: British Museum Press, 1978 
• Translations:
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