The Lewis Chessmen (3 page)

KINGS
National Museums Scotland kings (NMS 19, left and NMS 20, right)
.

The kings [
Fig. 5
] are all seated on thrones and hold a sword across the knees, right hand on the grip and left hand grasping the scabbard or blade. All but one has long hair worn in braids and most or all appear to be bearded. They wear open crowns with four trefoil ornaments and are robed in long mantles fastened at the right shoulder, with a tunic or dalmatic (a vestment with sleeves and slit sides) underneath.

QUEENS
National Museums Scotland queens (NMS 22, 23 and 21, left to right)

The queens [
Fig. 6
] are also enthroned and crowned. Four crowns are similar to those worn by the kings, but on the other four the trefoils have merged to form a continuous, pierced band. Their hair, worn long in braids, is covered by a veil. Two queens hold drinking horns in their left hands, the rest support their right elbows with their left hands. All are clad in long mantles or cloaks which cover their shoulders but leave a gap down the front. Three are fastened at the neck. Under them they have a gown with close sleeves. In two cases these gowns are cut off at the knees and display an undergarment extending to the feet.

BISHOPS
National Museums Scotland bishops (NMS 26, 25 and 24, left to right)
.

The bishops [
Fig. 7
] show the greatest variety in terms of design. Some are seated on thrones, and all wear mitres, have cropped shoulder length hair and are clean shaven. Five wear a cope (cloak) as their outer garment, the rest have chasubles (sleeveless vestments). These are worn over a dalmatic, followed by a stole (a scarf-like garment of silk, etc.), and, next to the skin, an alb (a white vestment reaching to the feet). All these items of clothing differ little from the vestments still worn by priests today when officiating at masses and sacraments. Each bishop also holds a crosier, grasped with one or two hands, the crook either facing right or left. Some hold a book or have their right hand raised in blessing.

KNIGHTS AND WARDERS
National Museums Scotland knight from left and right sides (NMS 27)
.

WARDERS
National Museums Scotland warders (NMS 29, berserker, left and NMS 28 warder, right)
.

The knights [
Figs 8.a, b
] and warders [
Fig. 9
] seem mostly to be bearded and wear protective coats, divided at front and back for ease in moving and especially for sitting astride a horse. They probably represent originals of hide or leather. Three warders are represented as having hauberks (mail coats), two of them with coifs (hoods), but otherwise head-gear consists mostly of helmets or else kettle-hats. The helmets are conical, many with protective flaps for the ears and back of the neck. Some of the kettle-hats are like twentieth-century bowler hats, but two have a distinctive carinated (keel-like, with a horizontal ridge) outline. They are all provided with large kite-shaped shields, many of which have geometric designs, especially of crosses. Three of the warders are carved biting the top of their shields. The knights all have spears and the warders drawn swords. The knights' horses, in appearance and relative proportions, look – presumably misleadingly – like present-day Shetland ponies.