Unique Historical Chess Treasures

Chess sets have always come in many variations, although nowadays we are mostly used to the standard ones. However, some of the most unique and beautiful sets were made long ago by skilled artisans. Let’s delve into the rich history of chess from the Medieval period with a collection of finely crafted sets of European origin.

The Lewis Chessmen
The Lewis Chessmen were discovered in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. These remarkable treasures offer a glimpse into medieval times and how its people enjoyed games. These intricately carved pieces are believed to have been crafted in the 12th or 13th century in Norway. 

While they are mostly associated with the game of chess, these pieces could have also been used for the game of Hnefatafl, which is another ancient board game. The game involves the use of kings and pawns in a game played on a board carved in stone.

In addition to the chess sets that were unearthed in this hoard, there were also pieces for the game of ‘Tables’, which was a precursor to the game of backgammon. This suggests that people of the time were deeply invested in creating and playing games, consisting of various forms of strategic play.

The chess pieces discovered consist of 8 kings, 8 queens, 16 bishops, 15 knights, 13 wardens (rooks) and 19 pawns. It is believed that these pieces were a part of roughly 5 chess sets. These figures were carved from walrus ivory, a prized material which adds to the pieces historical and cultural value.

The Lewis Chessmen are not only famous for their historical significance but also their distinct appearance. Each of the pieces depict human figures, rather than abstract depictions, and have intricately carved glum facial expressions with bulging eyes and detailed clothing. It is truly a chess set with character.

Replicas of the Lewis Chessmen are produced today, which capture the unique medieval style, providing a connection to the history of chess.

Charlemagne Chessmen
The Charlemagne Chessmen is an exquisitely crafted set. Carved in elephant ivory, which is both luxurious and highly durable. It is named after the Emperor Charlemagne, although the set was crafted long after his time, in the late 11th century in Salerno, Italy at a time when the city was a centre of culture and craftsmanship.

The set originally consisted of 30 pieces in 1598. However, during the period of the French Revolution, tragically many of the pieces were lost, with only 16 pieces surviving to this day. They are now considered precious artefacts.

The design of the Charlemagne Chessmen is notable as the carvings are unique, made by highly skilled artisans, with the realistic depictions of people and animals, rather than abstract motifs seen in other chess sets. The level of detail in each piece is truly incredible.

The chessmen consist of traditional pieces found in other chess sets, but with unique depictions for each piece.

The recovered set includes:

Two kings
Two queens
Three quadrigas (rooks) which are represented by chariot-like figures
Four knights, mounted on horseback
Four elephants which represented bishops
One foot soldier, representing pawns
The Charlemagne Chessmen set is an incredible example of medieval craftsmanship from 11th century Italy.

These are just two examples of history’s incredible chess treasures. Fortunately, there are many more to learn about and discover.