Tuesday, December 6, 2016

The Lewis Chessmen At The Amazing British Museum


The British Museum is a must see when you are in London.  I never tire of it, there is always so much to see! And wonder of wonders, it is FREE! (There are Plexiglas boxes where you are encouraged to donate money and I do wish that more would do so, it must take a lot to maintain such a great museum.)

"The British Museum is dedicated to human history, art and culture.  Its permanent collection, numbering some 8 million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence and originates from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present."

There, you see, I told you, eight million ought to keep anyone interested!


A set of 12th century chessmen were found on the Isle of Lewis in 1831.  The Isle of Lewis is in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.  The museum kindly had a map showing the location, I have it for you here.  Of course, I know where it is located but only because of my blog!  (Thank you Pat and Graham!)

The chess pieces are mostly carved from walrus ivory and the detail is incredible.  Apparently, at one time the chess board was red and white instead of the black and white that we know today.  If you would like to read much more about the Lewis Chessmen you may do so here and here. 





Now, as much as I love to look at these objects, I can't say that I like chess very much...


I was playing chess with my friend and he said, "let's make this interesting".  So we stopped playing chess.

Ha, ha! That was a joke that I just read today and it has made me giggle!

Below is the entrance to the British Museum, isn't it wonderful?
Hope to get back there soon!


46 comments:

  1. 8 million! That sure is some number!!

    I like Chess...I used to like chess and used to, once, play it often, but I've not played the game in a very long time.

    I beat a friend of ours once...at speed chess. He'd been, a few years earlier, a South Australian chess champion!

    I'm not sure who received the biggest shock when I beat him...him or me! (I hid my surprise as best as I could...and my ex who had been looking on, had to hide his, too)!

    That I won was a total fluke...and I purposely never played him again! lol

    Why spoil the record? :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should play me at my chess, you would be assured of a win!
      Does not surprise me at all that you beat that chess champion, you are brilliant!

      Delete
  2. The British Museum is indeed a "must" for anyone who travels to London. I guess if I were living in London, I'd have a membership pass or something like that - I am sure there is an organization such as "Friends of the British Museum".
    Even if someone should say that they are not interested in looking at a pile of old stuff, the building(s) alone are worth a visit!

    But my favourite museums in London are 1. The Museum of London, 2. the V&A and 3. the Hans Soane Museum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I should do a post on Hans Sloane by himself, I could have tied it in with my chocolate post!
      Richard and I have membership with the British Museum, there are benefits and the money goes to help with the upkeep of the museum. I will have another post about the British Museum and I will to into more detail about it. Sorry, this post was so short, I cannot concentrate enough these days to blog very well. :-(

      Delete
    2. Sorry, I typed this very quickly! I was looking over my list of things I wanted to do in London and I wanted to see the John Soane Museum, I think that is the one you meant. Anyway, I did not get to see it! Maybe next time!!

      Delete
    3. Sorry, I typed this very quickly! I was looking over my list of things I wanted to do in London and I wanted to see the John Soane Museum, I think that is the one you meant. Anyway, I did not get to see it! Maybe next time!!

      Delete
  3. The British Museum certainly is a must if you're in London. Inevitably, I like the British galleries! But you can lose yourself there and the new atrium is excellent. I'm surprised that you felt people might not know where the Isle of Lewis is... :-) Love your header photo, by the way - been wandering round Southwark? PS _ Enjoyed the chess joke!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I at least knew that the Isle of Lewis was somewhere off the coast of Scotland. I can't speak for the rest of the world but it is true that many Americans are poor at geography. As a former travel agent, I had experience with customers over this!
      Yes! We love the area around Southwark, and I thought this photo that Richard took was stunning.
      Glad you liked the chess joke!

      Delete
  4. It's impossible to spend enough time there, i've tried. The chessmen are interesting, and i agree with you, i can't play chess. Yes, i know, technically, how each piece moves, but i'm not one of those people who can think several steps ahead and plan out a strategy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose I COULD try to think ahead and plan a strategy but then, I think, hmmm... maybe not! Of course, Richard knows how to play, of course!

      Delete
  5. The Lewis Chessmen are a world treasure alright. I'd love to see them in real life some day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OH! There is so much to see! I will do another post about the British Museum, will probably drive you all crazy, so forgive me in advance!

      Delete
  6. I love these chess pieces...I've read about them before, but your photo is excellent! I would love to see them in person. Do they know who played with them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think they really know, but someone quite well off, I would imagine! :-)

      Delete
  7. I love that chess set, so fascinating, I bought a magnet of one of the pieces.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw the magnets too! Love the thought of being in the exact same spot as you! :-)

      Delete
  8. Chessmen were called red and white until quite recently - in fact they might still be. "Through the Looking Glass" has the red and white queen, king, etc. and many old chess sets are red and white. The Lewis Chess set is such a wonderful find and I agree that it is wonderful that the British Museum is free.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Some of the pieces had red and white on them, so they think that the chess pieces were red and white too!
      It is incredible that they don't charge anyone for admission to the British Museum (of course, there are some charges for some of the exhibits.) but I do think that if you are able to give some money. I also think that the old churches over there are the same...even though they don't charge people to look at them, everyone should give some money to help! :-)

      Delete
  9. Very possibly the best museum in the world! The chess pieces are amazing in their detail and appear to be in wonderful condition despite their age. I must admit I have never learnt to play chess - I am not much of a one for puzzles, so maybe it would not appeal. But I love the look of the pieces!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It IS a great museum isn't it? And I was pleased that Richard got that back view of the pieces, you don't see them photographed that way very often.
      I did learn to play chess...and that was enough! LOL.

      Delete
  10. Those chessmen are gorgeous. I haven't been to the History Museum myself but I will be sure to take a trip if I ever go back to London.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now, this is the British Museum I am talking about...but you should also go to the Natural History Museum!!

      Delete
  11. The thieving English should return the Lewis chessmen to where they belong in Scotland!
    The museum is worth a look but always crowded.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you go often enough you will learn how to avoid the worst of the crowds.
      I suppose to be absolutely fair, they should be returned to the people who carved them, maybe Norway? Just because they washed up on the Isle of Lewis doesn't make them Scottish! Besides, more people will see them in the British Museum.

      Delete
    2. They belong to Scotland, not England!

      Delete
    3. Gee, I hope you don't stay up nights worrying about this. I had no idea my little post would strike such a nerve in you. Whether you think it fair or not, the majority of the pieces are at the British Museum and they are there for all the world,along with the Rosetta Stone, for FREE!

      Delete
  12. Some of the Lewis Chessmen are on display in the new museum at Lews Castle on the Isle of Lewis. I think they are quite beautifully carved and take pride of place in the museum.

    Adullamite's comment isn't even worth a comment except to say that there probably isn't one country in the world that doesn't have one thing that doesn't belong to it.
    You would love our museum Kay - free and with many local "finds."
    Liked your post very much.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Some of the Lewis Chessmen are on display in the new museum at Lews Castle on the Isle of Lewis. I think they are quite beautifully carved and take pride of place in the museum.

    Adullamite's comment isn't even worth a comment except to say that there probably isn't one country in the world that doesn't have one thing that doesn't belong to it.
    You would love our museum Kay - free and with many local "finds."
    Liked your post very much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would love to see them in that museum on the Isle of Lewis! And I could meet you there!
      I think that Adullimite was kidding, in a teasing manner. It just amused me because the pieces are from somewhere other than Scotland anyway!
      Pat, I am glad you saw this post. I thought of you when I saw the Lewes Chessmen!

      Delete
    2. Pat has said all that I might have said. The point that Adullamite made might have some sort of point but if so it relates to every artefact moved from its 'original' place. By the way I think the Lewis Chessmen were actually brought to the Island rather than washed up.

      Delete
    3. In my reading of the chess pieces, it had said that they were discovered on the beach. They were most likely buried there, but you will have to forgive my artistic license, it sounds better that someone would claim something if it were washed up on a beach!
      The British Museum calls itself a museum for the world. Therefore, the world should be grateful! (And I think there are 11 pieces at a museum in Edinburgh anyway!)

      Delete
  14. Beautifully carved. Does that mean if the Crown Jewels wash up on a beach in Scotland we get to keep them in return :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey man, don't ask me , I'm American! If for some reason the Crown Jewels do wash up on the shores of Scotland, you have my permission to keep them. Sharing is caring. 😇

      Delete
  15. One of my favorite places in London. I like their policy of letting you touch things. And I enjoyed this post very much.
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I want to live at the museum, surely they have a small closet that I could have a small room there!

      Delete
  16. The British Museum and the Natural History Museum are both essential if you visit London. I was lucky enough to see some of the chessmen in Stornoway museum a few years ago. (The old museum, not the Lews Castle one Spesh mentions; I'm looking forward to seeing that next year.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will drive you there John and buy you one of their delicious hot chocolate with cream. So looking forward to seeing you both in the summer. It has been far too long.

      Delete
    2. I want to do a post about the Natural History Museum too! And I want to go the Isle of Lewis too! We could all have some good laughs together!

      Delete
    3. Wouldn't we just.It would be great fun. In the meantime we will just have to make do with our virtual walkx

      Delete
    4. We will have to "muddle through" somehow with our virtual walks! (Notice, the "muddle through" is from a Christmas song!) x

      Delete
  17. Beautifully carved chess pieces...thank you, Kay :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautifully carved chess pieces...thank you, Kay :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Richard took that photo of the backs of the figures in their chairs, I love how it shows the detail.

      Delete
  19. Definitely well worth a visit, and the building looks magnificent doesn't it.
    Love the chess pieces, the carving is wonderful

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be worth a visit for the building alone and then, all the objects to see, over 8 million, just amazing!

      Delete
  20. We've been to the British Museum and were totally amazed at all the historic things you could see there. It was such a long time ago, we need to go again. You are motivating us, Kay. The chessmen are exquisite. I don't know how to play, but appreciate the craftsmanship.

    ReplyDelete