From 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
The Lewis Chessmen
Chess pieces, thought to be Norway, about AD 1150-1200. Found on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The chess pieces consist of elaborately worked walrus ivory and whales' teeth in the forms of seated kings and queens, mitred bishops, knights on their mounts, standing warders and pawns in the shape of obelisks.
Originally presented as a BBC radio series and now a book published in America, "A History of the World in 100 Objects" tells the story of humanity using artifacts selected from the British Museum.