The Lewis Chess Pieces are the largest and finest group of chess figures known from Europe, dating from around 1150. Carved from the rusks of walrus, there are enough pieces to make up several chess sets.
They were found buried in a sand dune on the shore of Uig Bay on the west coast of Lewis during the winter of 1830-31. The unique hoard consisted of at least 78 chess pieces, 14 gaming counters and a decorated belt buckle.
The chess pieces vary in size and detail, with no two pieces being alike although height is perhaps the best guide to how the sets were made up. There are now 8 kings, 8 queens, 16 bishops, 15 knights and 12 warders (rooks).
These numbers suggest that there may have been originally 4 sets. The marked shortage of pawns, only 19 survive, indicate that a great number of pieces may have been lost.
The figures are particularly fine and each royal piece, of a king or queen is crowned and seated on a finely carved throne. All the kings hold across their lap a sword in its scabbard - the symbol of a sovereign's law-making and enforcing powers. All the queens hold horns which might have held money or drink.
The bishops are either enthroned or standing, with all of them wearing mitres and holding a crozier. Some have their right hand raised in blessing,others hold a book.
The knights are all armed witha spear and sword and carry a shield. Their mounts stocky reliable ponies, are, like the warriors full of character. The warders ( rooks or castle) are all senior warriors standing at the ready with shield and unsheathed sword and they are the main fighting pieces in medieval chess. Three of them bite the top of their shield in the crazed manner of a Norse berserker.