Harry Potter chess set

Found in mysterious circumstances on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in 1831, the 12th century Lewis Chessmen have captivated audiences around the world ever since. They were concealed in a stone chamber within a sand dune for reasons that will never be known. Their enduring appeal has secured their position as the most celebrated chess pieces in the world, a fame that was reinforced recently by a marvellous scene in the film 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneT' (Warner Bros 2001). In the Great Hall of Hogwarts, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley familiarize themselves with the game of wizard chess. For this scene, the filmmakers used a replica set of the Lewis Chessmen. The red and white set featured in the film reflects the original colouration of the pieces. However, the fragile dye that stained them has long ago disappeared. The beautifully carved kings, queens, bishops, knights and foot soldiers (rooks) have frequently been associated in the popular imagination with the f