Chess Pieces: Stone Resin Isle of Lewis Chessmen - 3.5" King

Originally crafted from walrus ivory and whale teeth, the iconic Isle of Lewis chess pieces were discovered near Uig on the Isle of Lewis in April 1831. The precise location is believed to have been a sand dune, where they may have been stored in a small, dry stone chamber. The hoard consisted of 78 chess pieces and 15 other artifacts and was first exhibited at the Scottish Antiquaries Society in Edinburgh. Despite their hopes to acquire it, the society was unsuccessful in its fundraising efforts, and the British Museum eventually acquired the collection through negotiations between November 1831 and January 1832.

These pieces were likely made in Trondheim, Norway, around 1175. During this period, the Western Isles, including the site where the chess pieces were found, were part of the Kingdom of Norway rather than Scotland. It is believed that the pieces were buried for safekeeping while en route to be traded in Ireland.

The Isle of Lewis chess pieces highlight the strong cultural and political connections between the kingdoms of the British Isles and Scandinavia during the Middle Ages, as well as the growing popularity of chess in Europe. The game, which originated in India around 500 BC, reached Christian Europe via the Islamic world and was adapted to reflect medieval European society. Of the ninety-three pieces known today, eleven are housed in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, and eighty-two are in the British Museum.

Material: Resin
King Height: 3.5"
King Diameter (at base): 1.87"
Recommended Chess Board Square Size: 2.25"