An unusual subject, but one that’s very dear to my heart – THE LEWIS CHESSMEN
These guys are in the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers’ Street – l-r .. Berserker, Knight, Queen and King.
I’ve been fascinated by the chessmen since I was 14 and it’s taken me nearly 60 years to get involved with them properly. I’m delighted to be working with David Caldwell (the Chessmen’s guardian angel), Simon Gilmour (Director of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland) and Alice Blackwell (the Chesmen’s curator) to take science a little closer to the chessment to find out more about their oriins and history.
They are stunning – they appeared in the Harry Potter films and inspired Noggin the Nog. We pretty much know that they were made in the 1200s. We think they were made in Trondheim, but it might have been Iceland or on Lewis. The received wisdom is that they were found on Uig beach, but we think they may have been found at Mealastadh, 5 miles further South.
You can read about the chessmen in David Caldwell’s fabulous little book – “The Lewis Chessmen: Unmasked” or in more depth in his more academic tome “The Lewis Chessmen: New Perspectives”.
If you just want the basics, The National Museum has some nice images and a basic story.
And just the words …
From tooth and ivory born … by axe and gouge and blade.
The court of the ivory king. The finest ever was made.
Helmet and sword. Mitre and mail.
Crozier and crown. Teeth upon your shield. Facing the gale.
Where did you come from? Where have you been?
Who did you meet? What did you do?
What do you see? What have you seen?
Locked safe and still. in your glass castle cage
Who carved you from the void? Whose strong and skilful hands?
Who hid you from the world On lonely island sands?
Faces so sad. Eyes full of woe.
Souls full of sorrow and heads full of heartache. What do you know?
Were you born where the black rocks lie? Are you Jarls from Ragnar’s land?
Were you made on the friendly heather isle? And found in the white Lewis sand?
On the island shore. Tumbled and tossed.
Families broken. Armies forsaken. Loved ones lost.
To London and Edinburgh town. Traded like cattle and sold.
Bound in deceit and stealth. Stories and lies were told.
Kept in a cage. Behind a glass pane.
Locked fast in time Life put on hold. Break the chain.