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Message:: [QUOTE="Al Kowsky, post: 7642583, member: 97383"]Jay, The most famous antique chess set in the world is the Lewis Chessmen, carved from walrus ivory & whale teeth most likely in Norway, during the 12th or 13th century, property of the British Museum.  [ATTACH=full]1314175[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1314176[/ATTACH] The Queen is hilarious, looking quite board holding up her head with one hand & a drinking horn in the other. [ATTACH=full]1314178[/ATTACH] One of the most interesting depictions in the set is the Warder, here shown as a "Berserker" biting his shield <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie67" alt=":nailbiting:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. Berserkers were Viking warriors who ingested hallucinogenic drugs before battle, believing they couldn't be harmed by the enemy. They were the most feared medieval warriors. [ATTACH=full]1314179[/ATTACH] This chess piece, also a Warder (equivalent to a rook) believed to be from the original set was auctioned in London about a year ago for $975,000 <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie57" alt=":jawdrop:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />! [/QUOTE]