Checkmate: Lewis Chessmen Set To Return To Scotland On Loan
Scottish Minister for Culture Mike Russell is expected to announce today that the Lewis Chessmen – a collection of 93 individually hand-carved walrus-ivory chess pieces dating from the 12th century, found on the Isle of Lewis in 1831 – are to be reunited again. A proportion of the 82-piece set belonging to the British Museum in London will arrive home on loan, to join up with the 11 other artefacts currently held by the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. They’ll go on tour around the country in coming months, taking in destinations including Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
The Lewis Chessmen are one of the British Museum’s most popular exhibits. The temporary return north of even a few pieces (at least 25, probably more) represents checkmate for the Scottish Government, who have been calling for the Chessmen’s full repatriation for a long time, and were preparing to lobby at Westminster. The agreement – hammered out by museum bosses – appears to be a compromise intended to head-off any potential debate over ownership. British Museum chiefs fear that repatriation might set a dangerous precedent for the return of other disputed items, such as the much-fought-over Elgin Marbles, Bust of Nefertiti and Rosetta Stone.
British Museum chiefs fear that repatriation might set a dangerous precedent for the return of other disputed items
The British Museum’s rights over the Lewis Chessmen are much stronger than they are over other controversial artefacts in their collection, such as the Elgin Marbles, which were taken from the Parthenon without clear permission by Thomas Bruce in the early 19th century (the Greeks still hope to get them back). The chess pieces weren’t plundered, but rather purchased for 80 guineas from a dealer in Edinburgh, who in turn had paid £30 for them himself.
Yet it’s believed that the Scottish Government – which is pursuing a nationalist agenda, with the ultimate goal of Scottish independence from the rest of the United Kingdom – won’t drop their claim to repatriation altogether in the long term, and may yet make further calls for a permanent release.
Artefact repatriation is a sticky ethical subject – it’s hard to determine who really owns centuries-old artefacts that changed hands in ages before any firm regulation of such exchanges was instituted.
The debate over the Lewis Chessmen is complicated further by the fact that the set is thought to be Scandinavian in origin, since it dates from a time when the Outer Hebrides were ruled by Norway. If the Scots think they’ve got a right to the Chessmen, then couldn’t a Norwegian claim too logically be made?
Picture by Simon Greig. Some rights reserved.
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This is going to be seen as a smack in the face of the Greek government, who have been refused loan of the Elgin Marbles on the grounds that Greece did not officially recognise the British Museum as the rightful owners. I wonder what assurances the Scottish government had to make in order to be deemed safe?
Yes but for a loan. Do you think that the Elgin Marbles would really come back if they were ever lent to the New Acropolis Museum!? Plus there isn't really a parallel with regards to politics. For all intents Scotland is still just a province (you can tell just by taking a look at their football team), so this is just like transporting them to Portsmouth, Cardiff or Leeds. Feel free to add any comments below!
Hmm, maybe that's part of the plan - lure the chessmen back up to Scotland while the English are still confused and think that Lewis (and for that matter, Elgin, and Scotland as a while) is some undesirable suburb of Manchester that they don't need to worry about. Then when the tories get in in England and Wales, horrified Scots will vote for independence, and then conveniently forget about that board game they borrowed while they were still pally with the south. And if the English want to get the chessmen back - well, let's just see them try and climb over that Hadrian's wall and get it! Ah, it's a cunning plan. Next up, how to persuade a Saudi billionaire to buy the Scotland football team...
I wish we could loan the Scottish football team to someone then forget to ask for it back...
They don't make chess pieces like they used to do they? I've never seen a bishop or a king looking quite that scary before - look at those eyes! But then I've never played chess with 93 pieces either.
How about a straight swap - the football team for the Lewis Chessmen?
Only if we can spray-paint the players and have a giant chess match in Trafalgar Square between Rooney and Becks!
UPDATE: An announcement from the Scottish Government has confirmed that the Lewis Chessmen are indeed set to be reunited in Scotland, in a tour beginning next Spring and running until September 2011. The dates and locations are as follows:
Comment from Mike Russell, Scottish Culture Minister:
"The Lewis Chessmen are a significant part of our culture and this major touring exhibition will give people across country an opportunity to see some of the most significant archaeological artefacts ever discovered in Scotland.
"The free exhibition will showcase 30 of the intricately worked chess pieces from walrus ivory and whales' teeth - it will be a major attraction for tourists both locally and internationally. Visitors will also learn more about the fascinating story of the chessmen as the exhibition details the many stories and myths surrounding these iconic objects.
"The Chessmen reflect the strong cultural and political links between Scotland and Scandinavia in the Middle Ages and the growing popularity of the game of chess in Europe.
"The Chessmen are an important symbol of European civilisation and have captivated the imagination of visitors and academics for many years. I am delighted that they will be making a return, a Homecoming, to the Isle of Lewis where they were first discovered in 1831."
And a comment from Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of the National Museums Scotland:
"I am pleased to announce this major touring exhibition, which will cast new light on the fascinating story of the chessmen and enhance their place in the public imagination. We are delighted to be creating the exhibition in partnership with the British Museum and grateful for support from the Scottish Government for this significant tour."
More on the Scottish Government website.
I went to see this exhibit at the National Museum of Scotland this week - they're amazingly inconspicuous and actually quite hard to find in the gallery. I'm surprised that the museum doesn't make a much bigger fuss about them. But very striking artefacts nonetheless. Those bishops have real character.