Medieval History
In 1831, a hoard of luxury goods?including more than 70 chess pieces and several other objects, all made of carved walrus ivory and dating from the 12th century?was unearthed on the Isle of Lewis off the west coast of Scotland. The chess pieces (thereafter known as the Lewis Chessmen), which come from at least four distinct, but incomplete sets, are today arguably the most famous chess pieces in the world, and are among the icons of the collections of the British Museum in London and the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Beginning today, over 30 chessmen from the collection of the British Museum will be shown at The Cloisters, the branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe. The Metropolitan?s presentation of The Game of Kings: Medieval Ivory Chessmen from the Isle of Lewis represents the first time such a large ensemble of the chessmen has traveled outside the United Kingdom. After the showing in New York, they will return to London.
Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net
- Historic Lewis Chessmen Returning To Western Isles
Six Lewis Chessmen are to be displayed long-term at a new museum on the Western Isles, where more than 90 of the historic pieces were found. An agreement has been reached between Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) and the British...
- A New Theory On The Origin Of The Lewis Chessmen
The Lewis Chessmen are the most famous and important chess pieces in history. They have a long historical and scholarly record, part of which is that they were made in Norway roughly 800 years ago. But now two Icelandic men are challenging that belief...
- Medieval Hebrew Manuscripts On Display At The Met
Two important medieval Hebrew manuscripts?a Mishneh Torah made between 1300 and 1400 in Germany and an illuminated leaf from a prayer book made in Austria around 1360?are on display in New York City at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Cloisters,...
- Scottish Mp Demands Return Of The Lewis Chessmen
A Scottish Member of Parliament is demanding that the entire collection of Lewis Chessmen be permanently kept in Scotland. He is upset that the British Museum, which houses some of these medieval figures, is now saying that the chessmen were created...
- Lewis Chessmen Might Not Be Chessmen
Some of the Lewis Chessmen may not have been chessmen at all according to new research. The 12th and 13th century gaming pieces which were discovered in Uig on the Isle of Lewis in 1831 are considered to be Scotland?s most renowned archaeological find....
Medieval History
Lewis Chessmen arrive in New York City
In 1831, a hoard of luxury goods?including more than 70 chess pieces and several other objects, all made of carved walrus ivory and dating from the 12th century?was unearthed on the Isle of Lewis off the west coast of Scotland. The chess pieces (thereafter known as the Lewis Chessmen), which come from at least four distinct, but incomplete sets, are today arguably the most famous chess pieces in the world, and are among the icons of the collections of the British Museum in London and the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Beginning today, over 30 chessmen from the collection of the British Museum will be shown at The Cloisters, the branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe. The Metropolitan?s presentation of The Game of Kings: Medieval Ivory Chessmen from the Isle of Lewis represents the first time such a large ensemble of the chessmen has traveled outside the United Kingdom. After the showing in New York, they will return to London.
Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net
- Historic Lewis Chessmen Returning To Western Isles
Six Lewis Chessmen are to be displayed long-term at a new museum on the Western Isles, where more than 90 of the historic pieces were found. An agreement has been reached between Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) and the British...
- A New Theory On The Origin Of The Lewis Chessmen
The Lewis Chessmen are the most famous and important chess pieces in history. They have a long historical and scholarly record, part of which is that they were made in Norway roughly 800 years ago. But now two Icelandic men are challenging that belief...
- Medieval Hebrew Manuscripts On Display At The Met
Two important medieval Hebrew manuscripts?a Mishneh Torah made between 1300 and 1400 in Germany and an illuminated leaf from a prayer book made in Austria around 1360?are on display in New York City at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Cloisters,...
- Scottish Mp Demands Return Of The Lewis Chessmen
A Scottish Member of Parliament is demanding that the entire collection of Lewis Chessmen be permanently kept in Scotland. He is upset that the British Museum, which houses some of these medieval figures, is now saying that the chessmen were created...
- Lewis Chessmen Might Not Be Chessmen
Some of the Lewis Chessmen may not have been chessmen at all according to new research. The 12th and 13th century gaming pieces which were discovered in Uig on the Isle of Lewis in 1831 are considered to be Scotland?s most renowned archaeological find....