We at ChessSetHeaven.com tend to bang on about the history of the game of chess but no carved chess set typifies this more than one of the oldest group of chess set pieces - the Lewis chessmen.
This group of 78 chess set pieces was found in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. They date from the 1100's and originate from somewhere in the Nordic countries, perhaps Norway. This makes sense when you consider the northern islands of Scotland were ruled by Norway at the time.
Most of the Lewis pieces were carved from walrus ivory with the remaining made of whale teeth.It is likely the set is actually several sets combined and the figures seem to the modern eye to be comic caricatures with worried expressions and rooks that are chewing the edges of their shields. To look at the figures you get the feeling you are close to the people who carved them and the harsh life of the time we can hardly imagine.
It seems likely the pieces were first discovered by an islander, Malcolm 'Sprot' Macleod, in a sand bank in 1831, held in his home for a time before he sold them on to Captain Roderick Ryrie who exhibited them at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Subsequently the group was spilt with 67 going to the British Museum in London and the remainder were held in Edinburgh, now in the Museum of Scotland.
You can own your own faithful replicas of the Isle of Lewis chess pieces by going over to ChessSetHeaven.com.
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