British Museum London

Inside the British Museum in London is a medieval room.  Only a few of the artefacts in the museum’s medieval collection are shown here.  

Chess was a popular game in the middle ages. It was one of the seven knightly accomplishments and both men and women played. Often the game was associated with flirtation, as well as tactical battle strategy.  The church forbade the playing of chess by members of the clergy but this was gradually relaxed by the 13th Century. 

The Lewis Chessmen were discovered in 1831, on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.  The set consisted of 93 pieces and included 78 chessmen and 14 large gaming counters. When they were discovered, some of the pieces were stained red. The earliest medieval chess sets used red and white pieces, instead of the black and white we use today.  The chess pieces are made from Walrus ivory and whale tooth. 

Brooches were common gifts of love and affection.  This brooch bears an engraved French inscription of love and is decorated with rubies and sapphires.  It translates as: ‘I am here in place of a friend I love’.  

The Dunstable Swan Jewel, was found in the Dominican Priory in Dunstable.  It may have been worn to indicate an allegiance to the de Bohun family, or the House of Lancaster.  King Henry IV took the symbol of the swan when he married Mary de Bohun in 1380.  The item is made of gold and enamel.

Wall paintings from St. Stephen’s chapel at Westminster Palace.  Edward I may have wanted St. Stephen’s chapel to compete with Sainte Chapelle in Paris, but Edward I died before he could achieve this and the chapel was not finished until the reign of Edward III, in 1363. The chapel was covered with wall paintings showing scenes from the Old Testament.  This fragment shows scenes from the Book of Job.

The small casket is thought to be a betrothal gift from Queen Margaret, Edward I’s second wife, to Isabella of France, as it contains both their coats of arms. The casket is made in the shape of a shrine and may have been used as a jewellery box by Queen Isabella.

For more information visit The British Museum.