Salmond set for moves to reunite Lewis Chessmen north of Border

Published on Sunday 23 December 2007 20:18

ALEX Salmond has made it clear he wants to fight the British Museum for the return of one of Scotland's greatest artefact collections – the Lewis Chessmen.

The First Minister told Gaelic campaigners it was "unacceptable" that 82 of the 13th century figurines were not in Scotland and he vowed to campaign for their return.

Mr Salmond has not been slow to make demands of the UK government since he took power in May, but this is the first time he has chosen to make an issue of Scottish heritage and challenged the British Museum rather than Westminster.

The chessmen were found on a beach near Uig on the Isle of Lewis in the early 19th century.

Historians believe that they were probably made in Norway around 1200 AD and were originally bound for Ireland.

But, having spent most of their existence buried in Scotland, campaigners argue they should be returned here.

The pieces are beautifully carved figures of seated chessmen. The kings and queens have distinct features, the bishops have mitres on their heads and the knights are mounted on horses.

Of the 93 original pieces, ten remain in Scotland while the rest have been donated to the British Museum, where they remain.

Another piece has since been added to the Scottish collection, which is on display at the Royal Museum in Edinburgh.

Mr Salmond told Gaelic campaigners last week: "I find it unacceptable that the Lewis Chessmen are scattered around Britain and I will continue campaigning for a united set of Lewis Chessmen in an independent Scotland."

Yesterday, a source close to Mr Salmond said that the First Minister would step up the campaign for the return of the Lewis Chessmen soon after New Year.

The source added: "We are working on a series of options. We think this is an important matter, because they should be back where they belong and they could be a boost for the Western Isles economy."

Mr Salmond's plan was backed by Alex MacDonald, convener of Western Isles Council, who said: "It is very significant for us that the First Minister believes that the chessmen should be returned to the islands.

"My preference would be for some to be in Edinburgh, some in Stornoway and some in Uig, where they were originally found."

No-one at the British Museum was available for comment, but the response from the government in London was not positive.

A spokesman for the Department of Media, Culture and Sport, said: "By act of parliament, the British Museum is forbidden from disposing of any of its assets and to change that would require primary legislation. We have no plans to do that."

LONG HISTORY OF CONTROVERSY

THE Lewis Chessmen are not the only artefacts housed in the British Museum which are the subject of dispute.

The most controversial pieces held by the British Museum are the Elgin Marbles.

The sculptures originally decorated the outside of the Parthenon in Athens. They were brought to Britain by the Earl of Elgin in the early 19th century, a move which, he claimed, probably saved the sculptures from being destroyed.

Successive Greek governments have argued for the return of the Elgin Marbles, but the British Museum has never relented.

However, there have been some successful repatriations. The Lakota Sioux Ghost Shirt, believed to have been worn by a Sioux warrior, used to reside in the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow, after being given to the city in the 19th century. It was handed back to the Lakota Sioux tribe of Native Americans after they requested its return.

Another artefact, a statue of Aphrodite, believed to date from the 5th century BC, was bought for $18 million (9.07 million) by the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

The Italian authorities claimed it had been looted from Sicily and it is now due be returned.