Chessmen events
Investigate the mysteries behind the Lewis Chessmen in our
programme of events
Gaelic Tours of Lewis Chessmen: Unmasked
Dates: Thu 29 July / Mon 23 August
Cost: Free - book now on 0131 225 7534
Time:15:00 (30 mins)
Venue: Hawthornden Court, National Museum of
Scotland
A unique opportunity to experience our special exhibition in
Gaelic. Places are limited so advance booking is
essential.
Free Fringe Music
Date: Mon 9 - Sun 29 August
Venue: Hawthornden Court, National Museum of
Scotland
Cost: Free
Time: 12:45-13:00 (9 August - 28 August) /
14:00-15:30 (29 August)
The National Museum of Scotland forces once again with Live Music
Now Scotland to liven up your lunchtime. Sit back and enjoy the
music of some of Scotland’s most talented musicians – for free! You
can see the full programme here.
Film Screening Fir- tàilisg Leòdhais: Lewis Chessmen
Date: Sat 4 September
Venue: Dunfermline Room, National Museum of
Scotland
Time: 14:30 (1hr 30mins duration)
Cost: Free – Book on 0131 225 7534
This is your opportunity to see the full version of the BBC Alba
film featured in our special exhibition The Lewis Chessmen:
Unmasked. Film director David Halliday will introduce the
screening and there will be a Q&A session afterwards with the
exhibition’s curator Dr David Caldwell.
Medieval Soap Sculptures
Date: Sun 5 September
Venue: Hawthornden Court, National Museum of
Scotland
Cost: Free
Time: Drop-in
Carve your very own chess piece inspired by the Lewis Chessmen.
Look closely at the Chessmen to create your own queen, bishop or
humourous beserker. Or invent your own chessboard character to add
to the board.
Unmasking the Lewis Chessmen
Date: Sat 11 Sep
Venue: Bute Room, National Museum of
Scotland
Cost: £20 / £15 book your place by telephone 0131
225 7534 or online by clicking
here (select the September 2010 calendar to access seminar
booking page).
To accompany the important exhibition tour of the Lewis Chessmen,
this interdisciplinary seminar will highlight recent research into
the origins, history and making of these iconic figures from a
range of perspectives. There will also be an opportunity to
visit the exhibition during the day. This seminar will appeal
to students, academics and those with a general interest in the
period and subject areas.
10.45: Registration (tea and
coffee on arrival)
11.00-11.45: The Lewis Chessmen –
their place in the Kingdom of the Isles.
Dr David H Caldwell, Keeper of Scotland and Europe, National
Museums Scotland
11.45-12.30: The
Lewis Chessmen: Art and Avatar
Dr Heather Pulliam, Lecturer, History of Art, University of
Edinburgh
12.30-13.30: Lunch
(not provided)
13.30-14.15: Facial Analysis of the
Chess Pieces - the use of forensic science techniques for
archaeological investigation.
Dr Caroline Wilkinson, Senior Lecturer in Facial Anthropology,
University of Dundee
14.15-15.00: The Norwegian Empire,
Fantasy or Fact?
Alex Woolf, School of History, University of St Andrew’s
15.00-15.15 Tea/coffee
15.15-16.00: ‘To you he left … his
brown ivory chessmen’, Ships, play and cultural value in the Lewis
gaming hoard.
Mark A Hall, History Officer, Perth Museum & Art Gallery
16.00-16.30:
Questions/discussion.
In association with The University of Edinburgh
