The Isle of Lewis Chess Set

The Lewis design was made in Norway, likely aroundchess pieces. A board large enough to hold all the
1175 AD. It was found on the Isle of Lewis, Outerpieces arranged for a game played to modern rules
Hebrides in Scotland. Too cold for me!would have measured 82 cm across. Records state
The chess pieces consist of elaborately workedthat when found, some of the Lewis chessmen were
walrus ivory and whales' teeth in the forms of seatedstained red. Consequently the chessboard may have
kings and queens, mitred bishops, knights on theirbeen red and white, as opposed to the modern
mounts, standing warders and pawns in the shape ofconvention of black and white, colouring that was
obelisks. The Isle of Lewis chess set is the mostconsistent with the preferences of the day.A board
famous of theme chess sets. All decidedlylarge enough to hold all the pieces arranged for a
non-staunton.game played to modern rules would have measured
They were found in the vicinity of Uig on the Isle of82 cm across. Records state that when found, some
Lewis in mysterious circumstances. Various storiesof the Lewis chessmen were stained red.
have evolved to explain why they were concealedConsequently the chessboard may have been red and
there, and how they were discovered. All that iswhite, as opposed to the modern convention of black
certain is that they were found some time prior to Apriland white.
of 1831, after which they were exhibited at the SocietyBy the end of the 11th century, chess was a very
of Antiquaries at Scotland. The precise place ofpopular game among the European aristocracy. The
discovery seems to have been a sand dune whereIsle of Lewis chess pieces form the largest single
they may have been placed in a stone chamber.surviving group of objects from the period that were
Questions always asked about the chess set designmade purely for recreational purposes and are
are - who owned the chess pieces and why weretherefore an important find for historical and
they hidden? It is probable that they belonged to aarcheological purposes. They have also retained
merchant travelling from Norway to Ireland. Thispopularity as a modern chess design, though the
seems likely since there are chess pieces for fourdesign's historicity is an obvious reason for this.
distinct sets, though each has elements missing. TheirOf the ninety-three pieces known to us today, eleven
condition is excellent generally.pieces are in Edinburgh at the National Museum of
A board was not discovered with the Isle of LewisScotland, and eighty-two are in the British Museum.