Lewis chessmen

A Lewis queen from the National Museum of Scotland's collection, photographed in Edinburgh in 2010 This is the face that sells the replicas. Every Lewis queen rests her right hand against her face, and the wide eyes and set mouth read as worry, grief or plain boredom depending on who is looking. Seen alone, the carving is simple but sure: a crown, a long veil falling over the throne and robes gathered in heavy folds. Few chess pieces anywhere have quite the same personality.