Medieval: Lewis Chessmen

The Lewis Chessmen

The Middle Ages, though often described as "dark," has many exquisitely creations to show for their mastery of artistic beauty. Ivory was quite a popular material they used, and they created remarkably delicate religious and secular pieces from the ivory. Most of their pieces had religious subjects because art was viewed as a tool to glorify God and to decorate churches, but secular subjects were also quite popular. Medieval art, particularly in England and other Germanic countries, used Anglo-Saxon and Celtic-like knots and elaborate decoration, often including animals in the weaving engravings. I also find it important to note that figures in medieval art are not ideal or realistic, compared to Classical, Hellenistic, or Roman art, and sometimes are even symbolic in how they are depicted (for example, humans depicted like children and babies carried by angels can be seen on Christ's right hand at Vezelay, even though that depiction isn't realistic).

Beautiful and well-preserved, the Lewis Chessmen, found in the British Museum, are remarkable examples of secular medieval art, especially as chess was a well-loved game in Medieval Europe. Found buried on the coast of the Isle of Lewis in the early 1800s, no one quite knows where the 93 known chess pieces came from or why they were made. Two things are certainly known about them, however: they were made from walrus tusks and whale teeth and were made anywhere between AD 1150 and 1200. Also, some seem to have been originally painted red. There's substantial evidence that they come from Norway, but a few people also have some evidence that they originated in Iceland (see A New Theory on the Origin of the Lewis Chessmen). [For more extensive information on the chessmen see The Isle of Lewis Chessmen.]

The most obvious characteristic of medieval art in the chessmen is the fact that they are made from ivory, but also the elaborateness of the engravings carved into knots and spirals, most depicting animals, also demonstrate medieval characteristics. Also, the figures are not idealized or realistic, which is sort of obvious as they are simply chess pieces, and their faces are very serious and emotionless. I found it interesting that they look rather bored in expression and yet have such wide eyes, as if shocked or scared at the game before them.

April 30th

11:45 AM

Now I’m in the British Museum. We’re roaming the medieval section, and it is remarkable how exquisite these pieces are. We saw an ivory panel that was so detailed! [More pictures to come later.] The care they took in their art is so clear. I wonder how anyone, seeing this art, could describe the Middle Ages as dark.

Even the most seemingly mundane things were meticulously carved or painted or forged. There’s a purse frame that has such small, fine metalwork.

The Lewis Chessmen are fun, of course. Though chess isn’t exactly a mundane thing, it's still something you wouldn’t think they’d have carved so carefully at that time, but these pieces have remarkable details, even especially on the back. I wonder why the creator carved the queen resting her cheek in her hand. The sword in the king’s lap is a bit obvious, as the sword is a symbol of power.

Notice the intertwining and spirals in the carving:

A replica board with the pieces in their intended use:

Three plaques you may find interesting to read: