Lewis Chessman - the Warder

myminifactory

The Lewis Chessmen are an iconic representation of European civilization's growth. Probably crafted in Norway around AD 1150-1200, these intricately carved pieces were initially buried on the Western Isles for safekeeping en route to Ireland, where they would be traded. Now considered one of the most significant surviving artifacts from the Middle Ages, the chessmen demonstrate strong cultural and political ties between Britain and Scandinavia at that time, as well as Europe's growing passion for the game of chess, which originated in ancient India. The original collection of 93 figures, mostly carved from walrus ivory, was discovered in 1831, yielding four complete sets of chess pieces with the exception of one knight and four warders. This newly found piece is believed to be the first Lewis Chessman discovered since then. Acquired for £5 in 1964 by an Edinburgh antiques dealer, it has passed through generations of a family who held it as a treasured heirloom, unaware of its remarkable origins. After recent inquiries, the warder was identified and later sold for £735,000 at Sotheby's Old Master Sculpture & Works of Art sale in London.