Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 18

Isle of Lewis Scottish Terracotta Bishop Chess Piece

About the Item

A very unusual Scottish terracotta figure of a Bishop chess piece based on a hoard found on the Isle of Lewis in 1831 and believed to date to the latter 19th or early 20th century. The chess piece portrays a seated bishop dressed in robes and mitre and holding a staff in one hand. He sits on a low back wide chair with incised scroll designs to the back and sides. The hollowed out figure is heavily and well made however is not marked. The origin of the hoard, amounting to 78 chess pieces and discovered in the parish of Uig in the Outer Hebrides, remains unknown. The original pieces were carved in Walrus ivory and possibly originated from the cargo of a merchant ship wrecked on the shores of the island, subsequently hidden and not recovered. The form and quality of carving has been attributed to either Britain or Scandinavia and said to date to the middle of the 12th century. The collection is held in the British Museum and the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland in Edinburgh. Provenance: Acquired from the UK Art Market. In good condition with surface age wear and discoloration.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 7.09 in (18 cm)Width: 3.75 in (9.5 cm)Depth: 2.96 in (7.5 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Latter 19th or Early 20th
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Bishop's Stortford, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: CE18030411stDibs: LU1328236746092

More From This Seller

View All
Christopher Dresser Attributed Aesthetic Movement Terracotta Vase
By Christopher Dresser
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish aesthetic movement terracotta vase with slip applied floral designs in the manner of Watcombe and design attributed to Christopher Dresser dating from around 1880. Thi...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Vases

Materials

Terracotta

Studio Pottery Slipware Fish Decorated Terracotta Dish
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish British studio pottery dish decorated with a slipware fish design in the manner of Winchcombe and signed Gilbert dating from the 20th century. The oval shaped dish narrows ...
Category

20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Terracotta

Judith Gilmour Scottish Large Slip Decorated Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A large and impressive slip decorated and painted studio pottery vase by renowned Scottish ceramic artist Judith Gilmour (British, 1937-2003) dating fro...
Category

Vintage 1980s Scottish Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Austrian Pair Antique Terracotta Match Holder Striker Figures
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine pair Austrian antique terracotta figural match holders and strikers dating from around 1890. The figures comprised of one modeled as a girl carrying a basket on her back with ...
Category

Antique 1890s Austrian Victorian Ceramics

Materials

Terracotta

Italian Mid-Century Terracotta Hand Decorated Street Scene & Fountain Tile
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An Italian mid-century hand crafted signed terracotta tile decorated with a street scene with a fountain in colored enamels. The tile of tall rectangular shape has an incised outline...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art

Materials

Terracotta

Goebel Large Ceramic Figure of a Cockerel
By Goebel Company
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine German large ceramic cockerel figure dating from around 1970. The cockerel stands on a round pedestal base with incised and molded detailing wi...
Category

Vintage 1970s German Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

You May Also Like

Pair of Terracotta Gargoyles, 1960s
Located in Lisboa, PT
Pair of terracotta free shapes gargoyles. Portugal, 1960s.
Category

Vintage 1960s European Space Age Ceramics

Materials

Terracotta

Antique Terracotta Equestrian Model of a Horse
Located in London, GB
Antique terracotta equestrian model of a horse Continental, early 20th century Dimensions: Height 37cm, width 46cm, depth 17cm This naturalistically rendered horse sculpture is ...
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Terracotta Bulldog
Located in New York, NY
Our favourite “English Gentleman” terracotta bulldog. This stately extra-large Victorian dog sits “at alert” with finely detailed dark muzzle, ruffl...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Sven Wejsfelt for Gustavsberg, Complete Set of Chess Pieces in Ceramics
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Sven Wejsfelt for Gustavsberg, complete set of chess pieces in ceramics. Presumably unique, circa 1980. 32 pieces. In perfect condition. Highest measures 9.5 cm. Marked.
Category

Vintage 1980s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics

L. F. Jørgensen, Denmark, Impressive Terracotta Sculpture of Roman Warrior
Located in Copenhagen, DK
L. F. Jørgensen, Denmark, a large and impressive terracotta sculpture of a Roman warrior with a shield. Early 20th century. In excellent condition with minor signs of use. Marked....
Category

Early 20th Century Danish Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Large Terracotta Amphora
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
An antique large perfect terracotta Tuareg amphora: I made an iron support for safety, but You can change with a plexiglas support. It can be set wherever You want, maybe not where c...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Other Ceramics

Materials

Terracotta

Recently Viewed

View All