Mourne Studios - Lewis Chessmen
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The best rendition of the Lewis Chessmen must be Oleg Raikis - has anyone seen it in mammoth ivory?
Oct 15, 2023
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#44
hermanjohnell wrote:
As it turned out the medium sized Lewis chessmen are a perfect fit on a 50 mm/2 inch square size chessboard (see picture) making them ideal for those who want a Lewis set to play chess with. The pieces are well made in some kind of resin/hard plastic. They are unweighted bur heavy enough. They are also not felted. I have some goatskin laying about somewhere and if I can find it I´ll glue it to the pieces.
👍 and I can see that the berserkers as pawns look good too.
Oct 15, 2023
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#45
felonet wrote:
The best rendition of the Lewis Chessmen must be Oleg Raikis - has anyone seen it in mammoth ivory?
Anything Oleg does is beautiful and also, out of my price range. 🤦♂️ Also, I remember seeing the work of a craftsmen who makes individual Lewis pieces (not a set) from Moose Antler - they looked amazing as stand-alone art pieces/sculptures but again out of my range.
I´ve been busy all morning felting (is that a word?) my medium sized Lewis chessmen with berserker pawns. Now it´s time to put the kettle on and burn some toast...
Nov 15, 2023
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#48
I am so excited. I’ve received my Lewis Chessmen and they are magnificent. I will write a more detailed review when I get a moment- probably on the weekend - but these are just wonderful - the subtle nuances, the details, the differences in most pieces … staggering. I am so, so happy.
Just a few shots for now…. And yes, pieces are mixed from the Scottish and London museums with extra/different royals and berserkers …more to come but thank you Adam and the team at Mourne.
While I have some duplicates, the fact that each Royal is a piece in its own right is very attractive to me.
Powderdigit wrote:
I am so excited. I’ve received my Lewis Chessmen and they are magnificent.
Congrats, Powder, they do look fantastic!
Nov 15, 2023
0
#50
hermanjohnell wrote:
Powderdigit wrote:
I am so excited. I’ve received my Lewis Chessmen and they are magnificent.
Congrats, Powder, they do look fantastic!
Thanks Herman, the pieces are beguiling… the detail wonderful. 
Nov 15, 2023
0
#51
😆 indeed they seem - it part of the magic and skills of ancient craftsmen who carved the pieces. The pieces from eyes, lips, hands are so nuanced that the pieces look alive with their thoughts and musings. Very clever - the artisans who originally carved these pieces.
Powderdigit wrote:
😆 indeed they seem - it part of the magic and skills of ancient craftsmen who carved the pieces. The pieces from eyes, lips, hands are so nuanced that the pieces look alive with their thoughts and musings. Very clever - the artisans who originally carved these pieces.
I´d say it´s the combined skills of ancient and present day craftsmen that has given you those fabulous chessmen.
Maybe we lucky owners of Lewis chessmen replicas should play some kind of tournament with them (and post pictures of the ensuing positions)?
hermanjohnell wrote:
Maybe we lucky owners of Lewis chessmen replicas should play some kind of tournament with them (and post pictures of the ensuing positions)?
...and in the first game Powderdigit plays with the light pieces against me with the dark ones. Amazing. Two guys on opposite sides of the planet playing online with chessmen (replicas) from the viking age. Makes one think. And humble...
Nov 15, 2023
0
#55
It's clear to see why you're so excited Powder.....Very unique and interesting pieces.
Nov 15, 2023
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#56
hermanjohnell wrote:
Powderdigit wrote:
😆 indeed they seem - it part of the magic and skills of ancient craftsmen who carved the pieces. The pieces from eyes, lips, hands are so nuanced that the pieces look alive with their thoughts and musings. Very clever - the artisans who originally carved these pieces.
I´d say it´s the combined skills of ancient and present day craftsmen that has given you those fabulous chessmen.
A point well made. Adam/Mourne and their workmanship has bought these to life.
Nov 15, 2023
0
#57
hermanjohnell wrote:
hermanjohnell wrote:
Maybe we lucky owners of Lewis chessmen replicas should play some kind of tournament with them (and post pictures of the ensuing positions)?
...and in the first game Powderdigit plays with the light pieces against me with the dark ones. Amazing. Two guys on opposite sides of the planet playing online with chessmen (replicas) from the viking age. Makes one think. And humble...
We’ll start a new thread for such Lewis games but to note here … I had to bench a few members for my first ever game and my first move is made. See the game fold out in a new thread soon.
Nov 15, 2023
0
#58
magictwanger wrote:
It's clear to see why you're so excited Powder.....Very unique and interesting pieces.
Hey Magic, yes I get what you mean. I might actually use the word ‘common’ pieces / given that the Lewis Chessman are so well known and there are so many replicas out there. However … that fact most pieces in this set are unique (or different from each other) with nuanced carving and details makes the set wonderfully desirable - in my eyes at least. 👍
For those who, like me, spent time looking for a convenient display board for medium sized pieces (2.75" King, these are from Regency Chess), I found this:
It is made of thin cork layered over a fabric bottom. As you can see, the graphics fit very well the pieces (check the extra Queen on the left side). Square size is 44mm (1.732"). A nice buy to my opinion!
As it turned out the medium sized Lewis chessmen are a perfect fit on a 50 mm/2 inch square size chessboard (see picture) making them ideal for those who want a Lewis set to play chess with. The pieces are well made in some kind of resin/hard plastic. They are unweighted bur heavy enough. They are also not felted. I have some goatskin laying about somewhere and if I can find it I´ll glue it to the pieces.