The Lewis Chessmen
- Gallery: Room 40
- Culture: Late Medieval
- Made in: Scandinavia (?); Norway (?)
- Date: 1150-1200 (circa)
- Object type: chess-piece
- Materials: walrus ivory
- Museum number: 1831,1101.78
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
This is a chess piece from "The Lewis Chessmen," an exquisite set carved from walrus ivory. The figure before you is a king—bearded, crowned, wearing a mantle and tunic, and seated on a richly decorated high-backed chair. He holds a sheathed sword across his knees.
The chair’s back is ornamented with floral scrolls and a stylized dragon with a flowered tail—a striking example of medieval interlace design. This piece showcases the fine, detailed carving characteristic of the set.
Discovered in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis, part of the Lewis Chessmen is thought to have belonged to a merchant shipwreck. The 12th-century craftsmanship reveals a style seen in regions along the North Sea, possibly British or Scandinavian.
Each piece is remarkably detailed and shows very little wear, suggesting they were used sparingly. These chessmen represent a unique fusion of form and function, blending storytelling and play in a time of rich cultural exchange.
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 take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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