The Lewis chessmen are to return on tour to Scotland including the Isle of Lewis. The majority of the pieces are housed in the British Museum. The pieces, believed to be medieval Norse in origin, were discovered on a sand dune near Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides. Experts regard the pieces as amongst the top ten archaeological finds in Britain.

The chess pieces consist of delicately worked walrus ivory and whale teeth in the forms of seated kings and queens, mitred bishops, knights on their mounts, standing warders and pawns in the shape of obelisks. By the end of the 11th century, chess was a very popular game among the aristocracy throughout Europe.

The pieces feature on the banner image of the Kingston Chess Club.

Source
Times article 2 Oct 09