Medieval Lewis Chessman piece that was missing for almost 200 years before it was discovered discarded in a family's drawer sells at auction for £735,000

  • The Lewis Chessmen piece is a 3½in (8.8cm) warder, the equivalent of a rook
  • Bought for £5 in 1964 by an antiques dealer and passed down through family
  • Chessmen were found buried in sands on Isle of Lewis in Outer Hebrides in 1831
  • They are thought to have been made in 12th century in the Kingdom of Norway
  • It has hit new record for medieval chess piece at auction after sale in London

By Mark Duell for MailOnline and James Tozer for the Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

A medieval chess piece missing for nearly 200 years has sold for £735,000 at auction after it was kept in a drawer by an unwitting family.

The Lewis Chessmen piece - a 3½in (8.8cm) warder, the equivalent of a rook - was bought for £5 in 1964 by an antiques dealer and passed down through their family.

The Chessmen were found buried in sands on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in 1831 - and there were nearly 100 pieces, likely to have comprised four sets.

The Lewis Chessmen piece - a 3½in (8.8cm) warder, the equivalent of a rook - was bought for £5 in 1964 by an antiques dealer and passed down through their family

The Lewis Chessmen piece - a 3½in (8.8cm) warder, the equivalent of a rook - was bought for £5 in 1964 by an antiques dealer and passed down through their family

The Chessmen were found buried in sands on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in 1831
The Lewis Chessmen piece has hit a new record for a medieval chess piece at auction after being sold to an anonymous buyer at Sotheby's in London today

The Lewis Chessmen piece has hit a new record for a medieval chess piece at auction after being sold to an anonymous buyer at Sotheby's in London today

Some of the original pieces are housed in the British Museum. The piece in the middle shows a berserker - a group of Norse warriors who fought in a state of trance-like fury

Some of the original pieces are housed in the British Museum. The piece in the middle shows a berserker - a group of Norse warriors who fought in a state of trance-like fury

Carved from walrus ivory, they are thought to have been made in the 12th century in the Kingdom of Norway, which then controlled the Western Isles. 

Now, the piece has hit a new record for a medieval chess piece at auction after being sold to an anonymous buyer at Sotheby's in London today. 

Alexander Kader, Sotheby's chief of European sculpture and art, said: 'This is one of the most exciting and personal rediscoveries to have been made during my career.

'It has been such a privilege to bring this piece of history to auction, and it has been amazing having him on view at Sotheby's over the last week. 

'He has been a huge hit. When you hold this characterful warder in your hand or see him in the room, he has real presence.'

The Lewis Chessman pieces feature as part of the medieval gallery at the British Museum (pictured in 2009) and were once an important symbol of European civilisation

The Lewis Chessman pieces feature as part of the medieval gallery at the British Museum (pictured in 2009) and were once an important symbol of European civilisation

The Chessmen were found buried in sands on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in 1831 - and there were nearly 100 pieces, likely to have comprised four sets

The Chessmen were found buried in sands on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in 1831 - and there were nearly 100 pieces, likely to have comprised four sets 

When the piece was taken to Sotheby's to be valued, an expert from the auction house said his 'jaw dropped' when he was shown it.  

How the Lewis Chessmen are probably the world's most valuable chess pieces

  • Until now the Lewis Chessmen comprised a total of 93 seated kings and queens, bishops, knights and standing warders and pawns from four sets.
  • Probably the most valuable chess pieces in the world, they were found on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in 1831.
  • Their discovery remains shrouded in mystery. One story has it that they were dug up by a cow grazing on sandy banks.
  • The sets were crafted from walrus ivory, probably in Norway between 1150 and 1200, which controlled the Western Isles at the time.
  • Most pieces are held by the British Museum, but after a campaign by the Scottish nationalists to return them to the Western Isles, six were loaned to Lews (CRCT) Castle in Stornoway.
  • In 2001 a replica of the Lewis Chessmen featured in the climactic scene of the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
  • They have also featured in a manga graphic novel, been replicated in giant form with Lego bricks and even used as a cake design.
  • The game of chess was brought to Europe from Persia and India by Muslim armies, with the current rules and selection of pieces only evolving in the 15th century. 
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Seen as an 'important symbol of European civilisation', the Chessmen are among the biggest draws at the British Museum – which holds 82 of the pieces – and the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, which has 11.

But the whereabouts of five of the pieces – one knight and four warders – have remained a mystery since they were found in the 19th century.

That changed around seven months ago when a member of the family that owns the piece dropped into Sotheby's in London to ask for it to be valued.

Mr Kader, who examined the 'weather-beaten, bashed-up' carving said: 'Our doors are open for free valuations. We get called down to the counter and have no idea what we are going to see.'

He said his jaw dropped when he realised what it was and said the owners were amazed to learn the truth.

The unnamed Edinburgh family's grandfather, an antiques dealer, had bought the piece for £5 in 1964. 

Although he catalogued it 'Antique Walrus Tusk Warrior Chessman' he apparently had no idea of its significance.

A family member said: 'When my grandfather died my mother inherited the piece. She was very fond of the Chessman as she admired its quirkiness.

'For many years it resided in a drawer. From time to time, she would remove the piece to appreciate its uniqueness.'

Mr Kader kept the discovery under wraps for six months while authenticating it. 'There are still four out there,' he said. 'It might take another 150 years for another to pop up.'

The piece was displayed in Edinburgh and London before the auction. 

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