Viking chess piece names full#

People generally believe that they belonged to some shipwrecked merchant who dumped them somewhere to avoid paying taxes and never returned to recover them. While it is unknown how they ended up on the Isle of Lewis, a native discovered them in 1831. He has a darker surface color than the other pale figures in the trove, even though they were all previously colored.ĭespite their expressive looks, there is still a lot of mystery about the Lewis Chessmen. Some Lewis Chessmen warders consider him a fantastic match for them. While Norse mythology described berserkers as hysterical and vicious warriors, they appear more endearing than frightening.Īnother warder with sword and shield, the recently unearthed chessman, is much more sober-looking than a furious berserker. The berserkers, warders (rooks) depicting warriors with wide eyes and a habit of biting their shields, fit the bill. Sotheby’s news statement quotes a family member saying that one of the piece’s unique qualities is its “quirkiness,” which is an apt description. They are seated on beautifully painted chairs for the monarchs, queens, and bishops. Many people have their hands clasped to their faces, while others are clutching swords or staff. The expressions on each piece are severe and anxious, and the rate on each piece is superb. The Lewis Chessmen’s expressive and almost comical qualities make them more than just a very ancient chess set. It’s scarce for an individual or organization to get their hands on one of these chessmen. Eighty-two components are housed at the British Museum in London, while eleven are kept at the National Museum of Scotland.

Viking chess piece names full#

The trove is just a few pieces short of completing four full chess sets. It’s estimated that the treasure has at least ninety-three different chess pieces already, including various types of pawns and non-chess playing pieces like bishops and warders (rooks). They are, nonetheless, of Scandinavian ancestry, most likely Norwegian or Icelandic. The Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides is where they got their name because that’s where they were discovered in the nineteenth century. These walrus ivory chess pieces date back to the late 12th or early 13th century CE and are known as the Lewis Chessmen. Is there a backstory to the Lewis Chessmen that I’ve missed? What happened to them, and how did they come to be? In the eyes of outside scholars, the royal courts and the episcopal sees of Europe were the most fertile grounds for artistic expression, resulting in such sophisticated works.

They’ve developed their personality.Ĭarved by a master craftsman, the Lewis chessmen are often regarded as masterpieces of craftsmanship and are one of the most significant pieces in the history of Chess. They have been a part of the Museum’s collection for decades. They’re crafted from sperm whale tooth and walrus ivory.

The identities of their owners are unknown.