found at Uig Bay, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides

Five chesspieces of walrus ivory

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:	0098: 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
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
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