12 Captivating Insights About the Lewis Chessmen

Regarded as the most significant chess pieces in history, the Lewis Chessmen have captivated audiences since their discovery before 1831 on the Isle of Lewis. Crafted from walrus ivory and sperm whale teeth, these figures—kings, queens, knights, rooks, bishops, and pawns—are celebrated for their remarkable artistry and endearing, almost worried expressions.

Even with their widespread recognition, many mysteries about these Viking-era artifacts persist. Below are 12 intriguing facts about these historical treasures.

1. The identity of the person who found the Lewis Chessmen, as well as the circumstances of their discovery, remains a mystery. 

As detailed in Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made Them by Nancy Marie Brown, the chessmen might have been excavated from 15 feet of sand at Uig Bay's edge. Alternatively, a local farmer could have stumbled upon them in a sandbank, initially mistaking them for elves and fleeing, only to return later at his wife's insistence. Another theory suggests they were hidden by survivors of a shipwreck who salvaged treasure but never reclaimed it. A further hypothesis links them to the ruins of the House of the Black Women, an old nunnery.

Despite differing accounts, all stories agree on one point: the chessmen were discovered in Uig. The only certainty is that they were found before April 11, 1831, when they were showcased in Edinburgh at the Society of Antiquaries for Scotland.

2. A female artist might have been the creator of these pieces ...

The prevailing theory suggests the chessmen originated in Trondheim, Norway, while another proposes they were crafted in Skaholt, Iceland. As recounted in the Saga of Bishop Pall, Margret the Adroit, the highly skilled wife of a priest, was renowned as Iceland's finest carver. She frequently received commissions from the bishop to create walrus ivory gifts for his overseas acquaintances. This could explain how the chess pieces ended up on the Isle of Lewis, a prominent trading hub at the time. Some archaeologists have even considered excavating Skalholt to search for Margret's ivory workshop.     

3. ... Or possibly crafted by as many as five distinct artisans. 

Experts in museum artifacts have suggested that the differing craftsmanship of the chessmen indicates they were made by at least four carvers. In 2009, forensic anthropologist Caroline Wilkinson, known for reconstructing the faces of historical figures like King Richard III, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Johann Sebastian Bach, concluded there were five artisans based on her study of the facial features of 59 chessmen. She categorized them into five groups using traits such as "round open eyes" and "low-placed nostrils." (It’s plausible that Margret the Adroit worked with four assistants in her workshop.)

4. The Lewis Chessmen were likely created between 1150 and 1200.

Without archaeological context, pinpointing their exact age is challenging. However, their attire provides valuable hints. The rooks are depicted as warriors dressed in late-Norse period fashion: long leather coats, Norman-style kite shields, high-quality swords, and pointed helmets (though two resemble a bowler hat and a bucket, respectively). The bishops’ miters, with their distinct front and back peaks, align with a style popular in the late 12th century.

5. Four of the rooks are depicted as berserkers.

How do we identify them? They’re shown biting their shields. According to Snorri Sturluson, a 13th-century Icelandic writer, berserkers “wore no armor, fought with the ferocity of wild animals, gnawed at their shields, and possessed the strength of bears or bulls. They could slay others, but neither fire nor weapons could harm them.” The shield-biting frenzy on the chess pieces identifies these warriors as Norse. As Brown points out, “No other culture has claimed shield-biters.”

6. The Lewis chess set might be the earliest to feature bishops.

The set includes 16 bishops, depicted as unarmed, elegantly dressed, and well-nourished. How did these portly clergymen find their way onto the chessboard battlefield? As the oldest surviving chess set to clearly incorporate bishops, the Lewis set may represent their first appearance. It’s possible that Pall, the bishop of Skalholt and patron of Margret the Adroit’s renowned ivory carvings, ordered their inclusion.

7. The knights’ horses have short legs, which are historically accurate.

The tall horses often associated with medieval knights were rare in the 12th century. From Italy to England, most riders used sturdy, shorter breeds, with their legs hanging well below the horse’s belly. The Lewis knights’ horses reflect this reality. Even today, Icelandic horses, which have been purebred since the 12th century—the era of the Lewis chessmen’s creation—are known for their strength and agility, despite their pony-like size.

8. Every queen in the set has her hand pressed to her cheek.

During this period, the queen was the least powerful piece on the board, moving only one square per turn. It wasn’t until the late 15th century that the queen became the game’s most dominant piece. Could this humble status explain the intense emotion on the queens’ faces and their hand gestures? Each of the eight queens is crowned, seated on a throne, dressed in ornate gowns, and holds her right hand to her cheek. This unique pose has been interpreted in many ways—as grief, despair, patience, calculation, disapproval, or surprise, among others. Despite these varied readings, Brown notes, “everyone agrees that the Lewis queens appear displeased. Though not warriors, they are women in conflict.”

9. Two of the kings may have been modeled after real historical rulers.

Similar to the queens, the eight kings are seated on thrones, their expressions equally stern (except for the two younger ones, who appear slightly eager). Each king holds a sword across their lap, and all but one have long hair styled into locks. If the pieces are indeed from the late 12th century, two of them might represent Magnus V, crowned in Norway in 1164, and Sverrir, who ruled from 1184 to 1202.

Magnus V—not to be confused with Magnus Barefoot or Magnus the Blind—ascended to the throne at just 8 years old, though his father, Erling Skew-Neck, governed Norway until his death in 1179. By then, Magnus had grown into a handsome man known for his fondness for drink and women. Sverrir, in contrast, was stocky and broad, and, as Brown notes, “looked most regal when seated.”

After Magnus died in 1184, Sverrir claimed the throne. However, conflicts with the archbishop led to his excommunication, and he soon faced an armed rebellion. The rebels were eventually cornered at Viken, where they resorted to eating their walrus-hide ropes. Sverrir showed them mercy, and a fragile peace followed. He died months later from illness, still excommunicated, in the year 1202. As recounted in the Saga of King Sverrir, the king lamented near the end, “Being a king has brought me nothing but war, trouble, and hardship.”

10. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), Harry and Ron engage in a game of wizard chess using the Lewis Chessmen.

In this memorable scene from the first Harry Potter movie, the chess pieces come to life and move on their own.

11. The Lewis Chessmen are regarded as national treasures of Scotland.

Currently, 82 of the 93 known pieces from the hoard—which includes the Lewis Chessmen and other gaming items—are housed in the British Museum, while 11 chessmen are displayed at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

During the 2012 Scottish independence movement, there were calls to return the Lewis Chessmen from the British Museum to Scotland. The Scottish Democratic Alliance, a pro-independence center-right party, released a white paper titled “The Future Governance of Scotland,” which outlined five key elements of the “exit strategy from the UK.” Among them was the “division of U.K. assets (oil, financial, military, Lewis chessmen, etc.).” However, after Scotland voted against independence in 2014, the chessmen remained in the British Museum.

12. Six Chessmen have made their way back “home” to the Isle of Lewis.

Museum nan Eilean, located within Lews Castle in Stornoway, now houses six Lewis Chessmen on permanent loan from the British Museum. Alongside the exhibit of these iconic figurines, the museum highlights the rich heritage of the Outer Hebrides, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the historical context from which the chessmen originated.