Ancient Lewis Chess Piece Discovered in a Drawer Sold for Nearly One Million Dollars

Holy Hathor!  I found out about the discovery from the CCI-USA June 2019 news/magazine edition which is edited by Duncan Pohl (CCI is Chess Collectors International).  I finally had a chance to read it while I was waiting at a doctor's office for my appointment to be called!

The story itself about how the piece was discovered is absolutely amazing.  The piece came up for auction on July 2, 2019 at Sotheby's London, and was estimated to go for as much as $1.3 million, the first time any Lewis chess piece has been offered for auction.

The piece itself is called a "Warder" and is the equivalent of a modern Rook (Castle), carved from Walrus ivory.  You can read more about the piece, it's discovery and the auction at the links below.

Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Sotheby’s.

A Lewis Chessman, Bought for $6 and Then Tucked Away in a Drawer for Decades, Just Sold at Auction for Almost $1 Million
Sarah Cascone, July 3, 2019
ArtNet News

A Newly Discovered Lewis Chessman Comes to Auction
Jue 4, 2019
By Sotheby's

Why this single chess piece could fetch $1 million in an upcoming auction
Alex Horton, June 3, 2019
The Washington Post

Lewis Chess Piece Bought for 5 Pounds and Kept in Drawer Sells for 735,000 Pounds
Simon Johnson, 2 July 2019
The Telegraph