The Lewis Chessmen are the most important chess pieces ... As Brown notes, “No other culture claims shield-biters.” 6. The Lewis chess set may be the first to include bishops.

Sotheby's has determined that a figurine a Scottish antique dealer bought in 1964 is actually a 900-year-old Viking chess piece ... looking like one of the Lewis chessmen.

So, while there are plenty of character chess sets for Lord of the Rings around, there’s an allure to choosing one that echoes sets like the medieval Lewis chessmen. Enter this lovely set of ...

Every chess-set shows a society at war ... and known ever since as the Lewis Chessmen. Sixty-seven are in the British Museum. Eleven are owned by the National Museums of Scotland.