The Lewis Chessmen: New Perspectives

A co-publication with the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. The 93 Lewis Chessmen, bought by the British Museum and by what is now the National Museum of Scotland in the mid nineteenth century, were made in twelfth century Scandinavia, from ivory and whales’ teeth. They continue to fascinate academics from various disciplines, as well as museum visitors. In 2014 six of the British Museum’s collection will be moved and displayed in a purpose-built museum in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, about 20 miles from where they were discovered. This timely, scholarly book includes looking at who ruled the isles at the time the Chessmen were made and a history of the ivory trade in the north Atlantic.

Reviews of The Lewis Chessmen: New Perspectives

' … overall a valuable contribution to the study of this extraordinary hoard of medieval gaming pieces and demonstrates how wide-ranging the questions are that such a find raises and how varied the methodologies must be in order to tackle these.' The Society for Medieval Archaeology; ' … a very well-edited presentation of the Chessmen and their material, artistic and historical context.' Medieval Histories; 'This is an impressively comprehensive and often surprising insight into the significance of these iconic artefacts.' Current Archaeology