The lewis chessmen are superbly detailed and authentic replicas of the famous originals. The ninetythree game pieces of the lewis chessmen hoard were found on the isle of lewis in the outer hebrides of scotland. The chess pieces were probably made in the late 12th or early th century in norway. The final book in the series is called the chessmen, and its plot centers on a character who handcarves replicas of the chessmen from driftwood. National museums of scotland and society of antiquaries of scotland. The enduring mystery of the lewis chessmen history. Cover of the sleeping army, which features chess pieces inspired by the lewis chessmen.
If you dont have enough content to fill a book, just dont write one. Discovered in 1831 on lewis in the outer hebrides of scotland, they may constitute some of the. These enchanting chess pieces consist of elaborately worked walru. Peter may lewis trilogy collection 3 books box set the lewis man, the backhouse, the chessmen by peter may 1 jan 2017 4. Her last book, song of the vikings, was a london times literary supplement book of the year 2012, so you know she can write well. Carved from walrus ivory a few are also made from whale teeth the 78 chess pieces were most likely made in trondheim, norway between 1150 and 1200 ad. Lewis chessmen simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. By coincidence, a new book by american author nancy marie brown suggests an icelandic rather than a norwegian heritage for the chessmen. Since 1995, various pieces have been shown in over 20 exhibitions, so hundreds of thousands possibly millions of people have been able to see them, all around the world. The lewis chessmen or uig chessmen, named after the island or the bay where they were found, are a group of distinctive 12thcentury chess pieces, along with. Lewis chessmen a 3d model collection by the british museum. The lewis chessmen consist of elaborately worked walrus ivory and whales teeth in the forms of seated kings and queens, mitred bishops, knights on their mounts, standing warders and pawns in the shape of obelisks. A set of lewis chessmen was there, and i asked the curator whence it had come.
Having left behind his adult life in edinburgh including his wife and his career in the police force the former detective inspector is intent on repairing past relationships and restoring his parents derelict. Lewis chessmen collections national museums scotland shop. The lewis chessmen bones of contention books and arts. In the lewis man, the second book of the trilogy, fin macleod has returned to the isle of lewis, the stormtossed, windscoured outer hebridean island where he was born and raised. Jan 20, 2012 the lewis chessmen are thought to date from the 12th century. The eleven chess pieces on display in the museum of scotland were part of a large hoard buried on lewis. The small lewis chessmen are wonderfully finished giving. The lewis chessmen unmasked is a popular reworking of a scholarly article from medieval archaeology, providing an overview of the chessmen found on the. The chessmen is the third novel in the lewis trilogy and i found it really helped that i had read the previous two novels in the series, even though this book contains some characters that do not appear in the earlier novels.
While i think this little book is intended for children, as an adult who had admired the chessmen in the british museum, i enjoyed reading it and it has certainly fixed. See more ideas about medieval games, chess pieces and chess. What i enjoyed about this novel was the interwoven storylines, the atmospheric descriptions of the western isles and. The lewis chessmen consist of elaborately worked walrus ivory and whales teeth in the forms of seated kings and queens, mitred bishops, knights on their mounts, standing warders and. This concise book provides a guide to the history of these chess pieces including the story of their discovery in 1831, followed by skulduggery, deception and controversy as they were sold off to various parties including the british museum, where most of them are. A copublication with the society of antiquaries of scotland. Origins of lewis chessmen questioned in new book the national. Doctor who in lewis chessmen story in new bbc book bbc news.
The cabinet case style set features integrated storage space for all the pieces, each with its own space for protection. The lewis man by peter may, 9780857382221, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Not only are reproductions of the chessmen bestselling chess sets, but they also appeared as the chess set that harry and ron use in the first harry potter movie recently, a longlost lewis chessman was rediscovered by the heirs of a. Lewis chessmen piece, longlost viking relic, rediscovered.
The chessmen by peter may, 9780857382252, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. A modern forensic study into the most specacular chessmen ever discovered. Medieval in origin, they were first exhibited in edinburgh in 1831 but it is unclear how much earlier they had been discovered. Mar 07, 2017 a closer look at the lewis chessmen this week, six of the iconic lewis chessmen went on display at lews castle in stornoway as part of a longterm loan from the british museum. The ninetythree game pieces of the lewis chessmen hoard were found on the isle of lewis. These werent nearly the oldest chessmen discovered1150 put them somewhere in. The lewis chessmen are thought to date from the 12th century. To celebrate, were taking a look at five things you should know about these medieval masterpieces.
The hoard comprised seventyeight distinctive chess pieces and fifteen other nonchess pieces, nearly all carved from walrus tusk ivory, and. The lewis chessmen unmasked by david caldwell goodreads. A fascinating little book which sheds new light on the origins of the famous isle of lewis chessmen. The hoard was discovered in 1831 on the isle of lewis in the outer hebrides, scotland. Sep 04, 2018 the mystery of who fashioned the precious ivory lewis chessmen lingers 800 years after the worlds most famous chess pieces were crafted. Book two of the lewis trilogy and one can certainly not claim hes been running out of steam at this point. They were discovered in 1831, buried in a sand dune on.
Eleven chessman are in the national museum of scotland. Lewis chessmen piece, longlost viking relic, rediscovered in. Readers will find it hard to say goodbye to him, but we have to admire may for sticking to his vision of a perfectlyformed trilogy. Lewis chesmen or uig chessmen, named after the island or the bay where they were found, are a group of distinctive 12thcentury chess pieces, along with other game pieces, most of which are carved from walrus ivory. This book uses new research to look at the hoards origins and discovery. Nov 02, 2015 the lewis chessmen are the most important chess pieces in history.
Jun 03, 2019 the lewis chessmen hoard was found in 1831 in the outer hebrides and the elaborately carved pieces soon became stars of museum collections in london and edinburgh. This book focuses primarily on the 67 chess men owned by the british museum, with a few references to the 11 pieces at the national museum of scotland the. This time, the crime bears some resemblance to the the lewis man, in that a cold case appears to have been unearthed as a small airplane bearing the body of a murdered musician is uncovered from a lewis island loch lake some seventeen years later. The history and folklore of the hebridean islands are the integuments of the book, and the chessmen offers an almost visceral experience. 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. Forensic research, historic analysis and excellent pictures show the chessmen as they have. They may be some of the few complete, surviving medieval chess sets. The lewis chessmen hoard was found in 1831 in the outer hebrides and the elaborately carved pieces soon became stars of museum collections in london and edinburgh. Even before his slide into dementia placed him beyond the reach of any official interrogation, tormod macdonald had assured his daughter, marsaili, that he was an only child. Chess fans saw a red queen brought to life in harry pott. Ivory vikings is supposed to be about the lewis chessmen, a group of lateviking age chess pieces carved from ivory, found in the 19th century on the isle of lewis, scotland. In a short space it does manage to cover a lot of information about the chessmen, how they were discovered and their artistic context. Not only are reproductions of the chessmen bestselling chess sets, but they also appeared as the chess set that harry and ron use in the first harry potter movie. They continue to fascinate academics from various disciplines.
Lewis chessmen a 3d model collection by the british. The lewis chessmen are among the worlds most recognizable works of medieval art, right up there with the unicorn tapestries and the book of kells. Last year, six lewis chessmen made a rare appearance at a. Nov 30, 2012 a fascinating little book which sheds new light on the origins of the famous isle of lewis chessmen.
Discovered in 1831 on the isle of lewis but dating back to the 12th century, the lewis chessmen recall a time of feuding viking lords and violent. They are owned and exhibited by the british museum in london, which has 67 of the original pieces, and the museum of scotland in. The accepted theory over many decades was that the chessmen hailed from trondheim in norway, then a centre of excellence for the production of such figures. Her book is a social history that romps through the evolution of chess, walrus hunting in the far north, viking marauding from the mediterranean to the. Here is a beautifullydesigned, great little book on the lewis isle chessmen and a slice in time of the cultural histories of ireland and greater scandinavia. The second installment in mays lewis trilogy finds fin macleod the blackhouse, 2011 without a job or wife but with another brooding case set on the outermost island of the outer hebrides. Medieval bookends inspired by the isle of lewis chessmen colors may very, due to each item being hand painted and detailed, unique and one of a kind. These werent nearly the oldest chessmen discovered1150 put them somewhere in the middle of the. The lewis chessmen by james robinson 2004, paperback for. Buy a cheap copy of the chessmen book by peter may. More than 90 pieces were found buried in a sand dune on lewis in 1831. The lewis chessmen are also key to the plot of the ya fantasy novel the sleeping army, as well as the uk animated tv series noggin the nog. Exclusive to the british museum, and part of the objects in focus range of books, a guide to the lewis chessmen this lively book considers the various fascinating stories which have evolved to explain the ownership, concealment and discovery of the pieces whilst also placing them in the wider context of the ancient game of chess and secular art of the middle ages.
A famous chess match was the central theme, with each move shown on a different chessboard, a wonderfully inventive idea. Ever since the ivory pieces were discovered sometime before 1831 on the isle of. Ever since the ivory pieces were discovered sometime before 1831 on the isle of lewis in scotlands outer hebrides, these kings. This slim volume describes the mysterious and strangely beautiful chessmen of lewis island, found near uig, scotland in april 1831. Isle of lewis chessmen full size complete set of chess set game pieces vintage and collectors brand. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. Nancy marie browns new book is a scholarly but highly entertaining investigation of the provenance of the famous chess pieces known as the lewis chessmen found at uist, the isle of lewis, hebrides, scotland. The lewis chessmen are the most important chess pieces in history. Jun 10, 2019 the lewis chessmen are among the worlds most recognizable works of medieval art, right up there with the unicorn tapestries and the book of kells. The chessmen is the final installment of peter mays lewis trilogy the other two being the blackhouse.
Emerging from a shelter where theyve taken refuge from a passing storm, fin and his childhood friend whistler macaskill realize that a bog burst has drained a. Made from walrus ivory some time between ad 1150 and 1200, the lewis chessmen are iconic artefacts from the early medieval period. Many museums request them for loan to their exhibitions. They continue to fascinate academics from various disciplines, as well as museum. The hoard contained 93 gaming pieces in total, including from at least four chess sets as well as from other games. Back on lewis island, the quiet hebrides outpost where he was born the lewis man, 20, etc. Crime, cultural, fiction, mystery, scotland, thriller. If you only buy one book on these chessmen, this should be it. Like the other two, the book is a combination of a crime story and a growing up. The mystery of who fashioned the precious ivory lewis chessmen lingers 800 years after the worlds most famous chess pieces were crafted. Dec 30, 2004 this slim volume describes the mysterious and strangely beautiful chessmen of lewis island, found near uig, scotland in april 1831. Viking, isle of lewis chess set, medieval bookends are enlarged reproductions of the 12thcentury chessmen found in 1831 on the island of lewis in.
The lewis chessmen are some of the most welltravelled objects in the whole of the british museums collection. This rich, mythological past that the chessmen inhabit led the childrens writer francesca simon to place them at the center of her most recent book, the sleeping army. The lewis chessmen and their longlost brother dailyart. This is a very short book it only took me about an hour to read. Feb 03, 2015 back on lewis island, the quiet hebrides outpost where he was born the lewis man, 20, etc. 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 twelfthcentury scandinavia, from ivory and whales teeth. Origins of lewis chessmen questioned in new book the. Nov 26, 2019 the final book in the series is called the chessmen, and its plot centers on a character who handcarves replicas of the chessmen from driftwood. The lewis chessmen are a hoard of 93 pieces in the form of norse warriors, including shieldchewing berserkers, carved in the 12th century. The lewis chessmen, or uig chessmen, are 78 12thcentury chess pieces, most of which are carved in walrus ivory.