What is it?
Gaming piece
Material
Walrus ivory
Culture
Viking
Date
Second half of tenth century a.d.
Dimensions
1.18 inches tall
Found
Viken, Norway
In the game of chess, the opening move known as the King’s Gambit is a popular first strike that makes the player’s intentions clear—they are here to win. For the king possibly portrayed in this gaming piece, which was used to play hnefatafl, or Viking chess, one of his most important moves appears to have been to the hairstylist. The gaming piece was carved at a time when Harald Bluetooth (reigned ca. a.d. 958–986) was king. It was found in 1797 in the burial of a Viking warrior in southern Norway and was recently examined by curator Peter Pentz of the National Museum of Denmark. The man depicted on the tiny chess piece is styled with an ornate coiffure. He sports a middle part and waves that leave his ears visible, and his hair is cropped short at the back. “We haven’t had any detailed knowledge about Viking hairstyles, but here we get all the details,” Pentz says. “This is the first time we see a figure of a male Viking with his hair visible from all angles—it’s unique.” The man also sports a long, braided goatee and a distinguished curled mustache.
Pentz believes the gaming piece may portray an actual Viking of the tenth century a.d. This is especially notable as Viking artists rarely depicted people. Although scholars may never know who the man whose likeness appears on the gaming piece was, the artifact has captured one of his good hair days forever. “It’s exceptional that we have such a vivid depiction of a Viking,” Pentz says. “This is as close as we will ever get to a Viking portrait.”
