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March 21, 2005
Lewis chessmen
Alex Salmond is to table an early day motion (EDM) at Westminster asking for the repatriation of the Lewis chessmen from the British Museum.
London has 82 pieces, while the National Museum of Scotland has another 11, representing together the surviving pieces of four incomplete sets. They were made in the 12th century, probably in Norway, of walrus ivory and whales’ teeth. They were discovered near a beach in Uig in, or before, 1831, although this has never been fully documented.
As an archaeologist, I don’t like museums which display artifacts out of context. I support the campaign to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece, and indeed any other works of art that have been removed and separated, which could be reunited and redisplayed. I have to say that I don’t think the Lewis chessmen fall into this category.
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2090-1533544,00.html
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/goto?id=OBJ566
Posted by Simon Holledge at March 21, 2005 04:20 PM
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Comments
I don’t think the Lewis chessmen fall into this category.
Why not?
I think that they should be reunited, and not in London.
Posted by: Stuart Dickson at March 21, 2005 08:03 PM
Let me try to be clear about this.
If the British Museum had some of the stones from Callanish or some walls from Skara Brae, I would be demanding that they should be returned.
On the other hand, if Venice demanded that Scotland return the Titians at the National Gallery of Scotland, I would be against it. I see no reason to reunite a series of paintings that were never intended to be seen together.
Likewise it wouldn't be a good idea to put all the works of a particular artist in the same place. Art galleries would be boring if all the Rembrandts were in Amsterdam, all the Turners were in London, all the Renoirs were in Paris etc.
In the case of the chessmen, we have 4 incomplete sets divided into two lots in different museums. I suppose it would make sense to keep each set together but otherwise I don't see any point in them being reunited.
Posted by: Simon Holledge at March 21, 2005 11:19 PM
The Lewis chessmen should be reunited and returned to Lewis.
Posted by: Leòdhasach at March 23, 2005 07:34 PM
Thanks for your comment, Leòdhasach. I assume you are either from Lewis or you are there now. Perhaps you know about the background to this case? If so, please tell us!
Why should the chessmen be returned to Lewis? Or do you believe that _all_ archaeological discoveries should be returned to where they were found?
Posted by: Simon Holledge at March 23, 2005 08:23 PM