The Lewis Chessmen are the most important chess pieces in history. Ever since the ivory pieces were discovered sometime before 1831 on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, these kings, queens, knights, rooks, bishops, and pawns carved from walrus tusk and whale tooth have long fascinated us due to their exquisite craftsmanship, unusually evocative faces, and strikingly Norse character.

Today 82 of the 93 known pieces are in the British Museum, and the remaining 11 are at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Despite their fame, some key details about them remain unknown. Here are 12 facts we recently learned about the Viking ivory chessman. Most are found in Nancy Marie Brown’s new book Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made Them, which draws upon Icelandic sagas, archaeology, history, and forensics to locate the chessman in a time in history when the Norse ruled the North Atlantic.

This is an exquisitely made reproduction of the Isle of Lewis Chess Set. This is renowned as being one of the oldest chess sets in the world, dating from as early as the 12th century and which featured in countless movies including the Harry Potter franchise. The crowned King carries a broadsword and is flanked by pieces that represent medieval Knights and Bishops. The Rook is represented by a sentry armed with a sword, carrying an engraved shield.

Handmade in Ireland by O'Gowna Studio.