The Lewis Chessmen
- Audio guide stop: 502
- Gallery: Room 40
- Audio guide: one commentary for a group of objects shown together
- Museum: The British Museum
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About these objects
In front of you is a display featuring "The Lewis Chessmen"—a unique collection of medieval chess pieces carved from walrus ivory. These pieces were discovered in a hoard on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in 1831, buried in a subterranean chamber. Scholars believe they were hidden during a time of unrest, possibly linked to a shipwreck, though they were never recovered.
What makes these pieces special is their remarkable craftsmanship. Each figure is distinct and incredibly detailed. The featured piece in this display is a king—bearded, crowned, and seated on an intricately decorated throne. The carving shows both strength and artistry, with floral patterns and dragons incorporated into the design.
Though the exact origin is uncertain, the craftsmanship points to a skilled workshop, likely in Scandinavia or Norway, around the middle to end of the 12th century. Their uniform style and pristine condition suggest they were never used for play, but rather preserved as a collection. Look closely and you’ll see how each figure tells a story through its carefully carved pose and ornamentation. These pieces are among the finest examples of medieval ivory carving to survive from this period.
See it in person
The Lewis Chessmen is on display in Room 40 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 502, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
New, in beta. British Museum support has just launched and is still improving: over 1,000 objects so far, with more added all the time.
