found at Uig Bay, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides

Front view of a queen, from the Lewis Chesspieces

This is one of eight queens known to have been amongst a hoard of around 80 chesspieces found in the winter of 1830-1 at Uig Bay on Lewis. The walrus ivory pieces were made in Iceland or Norway in the second half of the 12th century. The group is known as 'The Lewis Chessmen.'

The photograph shows the front of the piece. The queen is seated on a throne. The representation is typical of images of queens in 12th-century Scandinavian art.

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:	000-100-001-629-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.NS 21
Date:	Late 12th century Second half of the 12th century
Material:	Walrus ivory
Dimensions:	60 - 100 mm H
What:	Chessman
Subject:	Sports (NMAS Classification)
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Uig
Event:
Description:	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
References:	'The Lewis Chesspieces' multimedia programme NMS 1995 Taylor, M. The Lewis Chessmen. London: British Museum Press, 1978
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