Lewis chess pieces (Image © National Museums Scotland)
![Almost all of the pieces in the collection are carved from walrus ivory, with a few made instead from whale teeth. The 79[15] chess pieces consist of eight kings, eight queens, 16 bishops, 15 knights, 13 rooks (after the 2019 discovery) and 19 pawns. The heights of the pawns range from 3.5 to 5.8 cm, while the other pieces are between 7 and 10.2 cm. Although there are 19 pawns (a complete set requires 16), they have the greatest range of sizes of all the pieces, which has suggested that the 79 chess pieces might belong to at least five sets.[16] All the pieces are sculptures of human figures, with the exception of the pawns, which are smaller, geometric shapes. The knights are mounted on rather diminutive horses and are shown holding spears and shields. The rooks are standing soldiers or "warders" holding shields and swords; four of the rooks are shown as wild-eyed berserkers biting their shields with battle fury.](https://www.digitscotland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/search-e1690189713441.jpg)
Lewis chess pieces (Image © National Museums Scotland)
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