Five pieces remain missing, however, one was recently discovered in an unsuspecting familys home.
Lost for nearly 200 years, this is the first Lewis Chessman to be discovered since 1831.
The newly discovered piece is a wardera 3.5-inch (8.8 cm) figure carved from walrus ivory.
Photo: Adamcoulson viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 4.0)
When the familys grandfather passed away, his daughter inherited the chess piece.
She believed that it was special and thought perhaps it could even have had some magical significance.
I said, Oh my goodness, its one of the Lewis Chessmen, he recalls.
Photo: Andrew Dunn viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 2.0)
It’s a little bit bashed up.
It has lost its left eye.
But that kind of weather-beaten, weary warrior added to its charm.
Photo: Joyofmuseums viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 4.0)
With commission, the anonymous buyer ended up paying 735,000 ($898,560).
This is one of the most exciting and personal rediscoveries to have been made during my career,saysKader.
Find out more about the discovery of the Lewis Chessmen on theBritish Museum website.
A chess rook worth $1 million dollars.
