One of them for sure. The British Museum is a marvellous place in itself and their curators are the best. Definitely Doctor Finkel stands out, there's no way not to notice him.
"And on a completely unrelated note, I am most certainly not the former headmaster of a wizarding school who faked his death in 1997 and assumed a new identity as a muggle museum curator! Because that would be preposterous."
Personally I think you could drop Finkle into Discworld's Unseen University and as long as you gave him a pointy hat first, everyone would just assume he was a wizard, even if he never did any magic (which UU wizards often only do kind of reluctantly anyway).
From what he said in his lecture at the University of Dundee about Noah's Ark, I don't think he likes acting very much. He definitely resembles those characters though.
"You will have seen them in that cursed horrible film which name i forget about some kid with glasses" I just realized he's referring to Harry Potter, lmao
Why not lobby the Museum to actually do it? Send in an email request - I just did!! If they get enough notices, you never know, they might just do it: the perfect mobile advertisement promoting the BM to a wider audience?
This is the cutest Curator's Corner yet. The Wizard's Chess cut had me laughing out loud all alone on my porch with my dogs watching on as if I had clearly lost my mind.
People are saying Irving Finkel is straight from Harry Potter but I think he's more like one of these adorable, friendly wizards from Terry Pratchett's Discworld.
That's not to say all your curators aren't people I admire greatly, of course. It's just that Finkel has that very special talent for screen presence. It strikes me as a great tragedy that he isn't the host of a million documentaries.
Dr. Finkel, you are a treasure. I could even imagine you sitting in a pub and, like the bards of old, captivating a large crowd of people with your wonderful stories.
Irving Finkel 's life stories should be listed as some of England's greatest treasures. When he retires they will probably keep him in the museum and put him on display as an exhibit. OR. Perhaps they could build a lifelike animatronic replica that would recount all of his stories to an eager public.
@@kevinmorrice What, for coldmirror? You enter "Coldmirror Harry Podcast" into the search bar, then you press enter and then you learn German for three years because all of her videos are in fact in German. After that you can simply repeat step 1 and 2 to watch her videos, they are all neatly organized in a playlist.
I demand more Finkel!, if my demands aren't met I shall boycott the museum.. (The science museum mainly, but that's not the point) boycott I tell thee. BM, you have been warned!
Thanks for this wonderful presentation and for showing me the Lewis Chessmen. I'm planning a trip to London for summer '19 and The British Museum will be my first stop! In no small part because of the Curator's Corner videos.
My sister and I have a complete set between us, collected over many years. We each got one or two every time we visited Britain. We each made an oversize chessboard for them, since they don’t fit a standard one. I love them dearly!
I've just discovered Irving's videos and I am absolutely delighted. *actually sips tea* And I am not even British. Thank you, sir. I am having a terrific time learning about your work, in all seriousness.
Loved this,thank you.I had learnt about them many years ago,and they were one on my list to see at the museum. I came all the way from Australia, and can not get enough of this type and era of history.Fantastic.
Of course, in the novel that the film was based on, the chess pieces do talk, and occasionally argue amongst themselves, especially if the player controlling them is inexperienced.
Thanks for the reply. More of our minds out there. I may be slow on the uptake. But sure.. What a fascinating man, oh to know him. To be a student. The legacy.
When I was about 10, my parents bought the Encyclopedia Britannica. Under "Chess," the encyclopedia had pages of photos of chess sets. One set in particular I remembered as the "Viking" chess pieces. Every now and then, I would open the book and have another look at it. In high school, I made a replica of the Viking set out of ceramic for a project. (It's long gone.) Before I gave away the old Britannicas some years ago (it hurt a little), I removed the page with the photo of the Viking chess pieces. I asked my nephew, a woodworker by hobby and side-hustle, if he would like to make a set like that, but he told me it was too difficult. And today I've discovered via your video that it is the "Lewis" chessmen I love. And I've learned a little of its history from you. Thank you, Irving Finkel!
Adorable explanation, interesting from the beginning to the end!!! definitly he kept captive the audience!!! I loved also when he was standing background levitating with his wand a crystal ball for the Christmas tree!!! :D
Irving, this is a brilliant video as are all the ones you appear in. I could follow you around the museum all day and never cease to be fascinated. I'm so glad Tom Scott did a video of you, because I've loved your stuff ever since.
I wish I could afford one of those replica sets. Not that I'm all that good at chess, or anything. Today, I've been starting to watch video after video, but not finishing...until this one. Well worth the time spent.
Irvin Finkel reminds me of my favorite professor during my time studying for my Bachelor's degree. Whenever you walked into his office you're immediately transported to a museum and library. Every inch of wall space was covered with books and relics of his travels and collections. I miss him.
I have to agree that Dr. Finkel is a treasure. It's nice that the Museum has used his charming style to present this group of most fascinating objects.
This chess set is absolutely stunning- you cannot take your eyes out of it - with all the other treasures of the museum you his one make me smile every time I scroll through the photos from my visit there :) dr Finkel talking about it - it is a real treat
Irving Finkel is always a delight to listen to. I think one of the best things I've heard about the Lewis Chessmen is how apparently another pawn was found in a lady's cupboard, and that's as far as Wikipedia would inform me. The lack of information makes this discovery very funny to me.
Love the way Irving gets so excited. I studied English literature at university and I can share his enthusiasm. But it's exciting when your professor /lecturer gets a kick out if something really cool in history. Because the story they tell always seems to contain a little bit more than first meets the eye. Love it!!!
I have also fallen in love with these Chess Pieces. I first fell in love with them in the intro for Age of Empires 2 (th-cam.com/video/_rS_n3JVTPE/w-d-xo.html), and then when I saw them in that movie Irving was talking about!
Thank you for being so public. I think it is very important for guy's like yourself to promote what you do so we can better connect to all that you speak of. Thank you.
For the chess players out there: Anyone but me note that at the beginning of the game snippet there is no knight in the middle of the board? Then a second later the knight IS there, but it is on d5, so when it moves, it goes to e7 ... not e5 as the dialog states. A few seconds later, when the queen attacks, it has magically (pun intended) moved to e5.
I love his rant about the "forgotten" movie while holding the Queen with utter gusto and that the queen was a force to be reckoned with.❤❤ Irving Finkel shall have his own gallery in the BM.
A long time ago I, my mother and my sister were on a visit to the British Museum. After a long walk through the various chambers, my little sister, being five at the time, was very tired and she has started complaining. Then the Lewis Chessmen appeared before me. What a humble but at the same time eye caching exhibit! I had some seconds to admire that magnificent piece of art, those tiny statues that were participating in a war, by the command of two giants. After those seconds my sister started crying loudly so we almost immediately left the museum. Unfortunately that was my first and last visit to that beloved place. It is uncertain why, but those chessmen affected me deeply, it resembled a religious experience. It is curious that after all the museums I have been (and they are too many!) and all the precious artifacts in each of them, this is the one that gave me such an impression. In my mind those horsemen and bishops are moving in spiral orbits around the kings and queens, protected by all the soldiers, allowing me to observe every fine detail of them. That’s why, if I have the opportunity, I would like to pay a visit to this wonderful place once more and devote as time as I wish to those masterpieces! And who knows Dr. Finkel…. I may be able to make you smile, seeing me during this visit….. I may be able to give back to you some of the joy that you and your colleagues have given to me.
The real treasure in the British Museum is Irving Finkel. Who else agrees?
laki74 I do!!
agreed
One of them, to be sure.
MacKenzie Drake He is one.
One of them for sure. The British Museum is a marvellous place in itself and their curators are the best. Definitely Doctor Finkel stands out, there's no way not to notice him.
Irving Finkel so works for the ministry of magic.
What department, do you suppose?
@@troublewithweebles historical department?
Micheal Caine in disguise..lol.
@@troublewithweebles Muggle studies
Literary Wizardry.
"And on a completely unrelated note, I am most certainly not the former headmaster of a wizarding school who faked his death in 1997 and assumed a new identity as a muggle museum curator! Because that would be preposterous."
And I'm allowed full-moon in stead of half-moon spectacles now ;)
If you think about it, that would require him going back in time and de-aging to his youth so that he could start his career as a curator.
would it really !!!
The Irishman wouldn't pretend to be English.
Pentu Plove Always a pedant available on the net - even over a children’s bloody novel.
In which, Irving Finkel shows he is the master of the HUMBLE BRAG.
Could this perhaps be a Hello Internet reference I'm seeing? :o
Can confirm, the brags are quite humble
*THE FILM THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED*
Will someone please name the damned film so I can search for a clip?
Don Crowder I'm pretty sure he's talking about harry and the philosophers stone
@@hannahwhite8435 Thanks Hannah. Couldn't find a youtube clip of the scene but I did enjoy Irving's reenactment. :)
@@DonCrowder no problem :) the link I sent goes to a TH-cam video of the scene :)
@@hannahwhite8435 Um, what link?
Next time the British Museum wants to do a public fund raiser they should auction off the opportunity to play chess with Dr. Finkel. I would bid.
Second place can be playing the Game of Ur with him :)
+AlexR2648 - Yes! I would bid on that without question.
I'd rather want to play Senet or the game of Ur with him
I would play.
Or auction off Irving
"Irving Finkel" is a name that simply screams 'wizard.' Perfect for this man. What an absolutely wonderful person, I love his sense of humor.
Personally I think you could drop Finkle into Discworld's Unseen University and as long as you gave him a pointy hat first, everyone would just assume he was a wizard, even if he never did any magic (which UU wizards often only do kind of reluctantly anyway).
What we need now is a full reproduction of The Lord of The Rings but with Irving Finkel starring as Gandalf.
@@MadCapMag he's Gandalf, Dumbledore, Odin, and Zeus. He's every majestic bearded man and god ever exist.
From what he said in his lecture at the University of Dundee about Noah's Ark, I don't think he likes acting very much. He definitely resembles those characters though.
Don't forget Merlin.
To see him as Saruman would be interesting as well ahahhhahahahaha
No we don't.
"You will have seen them in that cursed horrible film which name i forget about some kid with glasses"
I just realized he's referring to Harry Potter, lmao
British Museum Shop should have Irving Finkel Fan Club T-shirts. ;)
Yes! X-small ladies fit please.
House Finkel, with a crest and everything.
ooh id buy one
Why not lobby the Museum to actually do it? Send in an email request - I just did!! If they get enough notices, you never know, they might just do it: the perfect mobile advertisement promoting the BM to a wider audience?
"I Fink, therefore I am."
The effects budget of this series must be enormous. Never been more proud to be a member of the British museum.
I love Irving Finkel so much. He is so engaging and is the one who inspired me to start studying Mesopotamian culture. Also, he has the best beard.
I guarantee you he would win the vote for president in the U.S. and PM in any other English speaking country.
Such a good beard, David Letterman has begun trying to look like him.
Seeing how passionate this wizard is about his chess pieces makes me feel like I'm missing out on an entire dimension of life
This is the cutest Curator's Corner yet. The Wizard's Chess cut had me laughing out loud all alone on my porch with my dogs watching on as if I had clearly lost my mind.
I'm a simple man, I see Irvin Finkel, I click like
Lol a blind follower, nice.
People are saying Irving Finkel is straight from Harry Potter but I think he's more like one of these adorable, friendly wizards from Terry Pratchett's Discworld.
I wholeheartedly agree!
But he is actually good at his job!
I am so hoping he knew Pratchett and they shared many a beer.
You are so right! I can see him wandering the corridors of the Unseen University.
Oh, YES.
And the humorist which lurks underneath just adds depth to the character fit.
Irving Finkel is an amazing person, he is so entertaining.
That's not to say all your curators aren't people I admire greatly, of course. It's just that Finkel has that very special talent for screen presence. It strikes me as a great tragedy that he isn't the host of a million documentaries.
Dr. Finkel, you are a treasure. I could even imagine you sitting in a pub and, like the bards of old, captivating a large crowd of people with your wonderful stories.
Irving is my spirit animal
Roelf van der Merwe Mine too.
Irving is my Patronus
If I could pick a second patronising it would be Dr. Finkel.
Dr.Finkle has a magical gift of his own, the gift of bringing history to life.
Gosh I love this guy, and his enthusiasm.
That sketch was hilarious!
I absolutely appreciate that Mr. Irving Finkel is a part of our world.
A youtube series of Dr.Finkel presenting historical games would be my idea of heaven!
Finkel is such a character! I love him :D
me too! I think he's brilliant.
I, too, long for open fields and yoghurt after a long walk around the museum. It's a science fact!
Ingeborg Anne Rakvåg i had to spit up some tea when he said that...
I just long for a comfy seat.
Irving Finkel 's life stories should be listed as some of England's greatest treasures. When he retires they will probably keep him in the museum and put him on display as an exhibit. OR. Perhaps they could build a lifelike animatronic replica that would recount all of his stories to an eager public.
Or you could just visit his portrait in the Headmaster’s office.
The password is “cockroach clusters.”
this is great! shout out to German TH-camr coldmirror for referring to this video whilst analyzing the first Harry Potter movie frame by frame
link
@@kevinmorrice What, for coldmirror? You enter "Coldmirror Harry Podcast" into the search bar, then you press enter and then you learn German for three years because all of her videos are in fact in German.
After that you can simply repeat step 1 and 2 to watch her videos, they are all neatly organized in a playlist.
Who's up for founding/joining the 'Irvin Finkel' Society for the Protection of Great British Eccentrics ?
What's eccentric about him? He's perfectly straightforward.
I demand more Finkel!, if my demands aren't met I shall boycott the museum.. (The science museum mainly, but that's not the point)
boycott I tell thee.
BM, you have been warned!
I didn't even notice the miniature Finkel at 4:18 the first time I watched this. He *is* a wizard!
Finally its been confirmed what we knew all along!!!
Oh wow. Thank you for pointing that out! Cool
He's in his natural element!
This video has 0 dislikes, which is quite remarkable. I havent seen a single video with that amount of views where this is the case.
I love the facial expressions on the pieces, especially the knight that is biting in the shield.
When I woke up today, I didn't expect a Curator's Corner video would be the highlight of my whole week
Thanks for this wonderful presentation and for showing me the Lewis Chessmen. I'm planning a trip to London for summer '19 and The British Museum will be my first stop! In no small part because of the Curator's Corner videos.
Beautiful film, Irvings passion is beguiling! Wonderful chess pieces too. I'd love a set!
Chess is the king and queen of all games, I learned to play 50 years ago and the game still gives me enjoyment today, thank you for this video.
Irving Finkel.
One of the best curators ever. He drags so beautifully our attention to culture and history.
Can’t stand listening to the guy for more than 40 seconds
My sister and I have a complete set between us, collected over many years. We each got one or two every time we visited Britain. We each made an oversize chessboard for them, since they don’t fit a standard one. I love them dearly!
This man's love of chess pieces, and hate of THE FILM THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED is really funny.
I've just discovered Irving's videos and I am absolutely delighted. *actually sips tea* And I am not even British. Thank you, sir. I am having a terrific time learning about your work, in all seriousness.
driest of the dry humor ... love it!
"longing of open-fields and yogurt"
Loved this,thank you.I had learnt about them many years ago,and they were one on my list to see at the museum. I came all the way from Australia, and can not get enough of this type and era of history.Fantastic.
Irving Finkel is always excellent. He should have his own channel.
I truly admire this guy. More Curator's corners, please! I finally found a reason to go to London someday!
I could legit listen to Irvin Finkel for hours. Please get this man a podcast at the very least!!
Of course, in the novel that the film was based on, the chess pieces do talk, and occasionally argue amongst themselves, especially if the player controlling them is inexperienced.
Nillie That would have been a fun thing for them to add...
"You play like a goat! Go home and bring back some experienced player!"
That would be awesome
If you are a kid it will talk to you.
I just found him.
I am overjoyed by just Everything about him.
Can't get enough. What moxie !
What a great mind and so much fun in the learning.
Thanks for the reply.
More of our minds out there.
I may be slow on the uptake. But sure.. What a fascinating man, oh to know him. To be a student.
The legacy.
Thanks for what you do, Irving. Great episode.
Thanks,Coldmirror! 👌
i love your voice irving finkel, and your humor.
More Finkel! Could listen to him all day.
I am so happy i have discovered Mr Finkel. What an absolutely enchanting storyteller.
I just really love Irving Finkell. We need more of him!
Love that wizard Finkel in the background decorating the tree!
I can't get enough of these videos. Amazing job from the curators and the museum!
When I was about 10, my parents bought the Encyclopedia Britannica. Under "Chess," the encyclopedia had pages of photos of chess sets. One set in particular I remembered as the "Viking" chess pieces. Every now and then, I would open the book and have another look at it. In high school, I made a replica of the Viking set out of ceramic for a project. (It's long gone.) Before I gave away the old Britannicas some years ago (it hurt a little), I removed the page with the photo of the Viking chess pieces. I asked my nephew, a woodworker by hobby and side-hustle, if he would like to make a set like that, but he told me it was too difficult. And today I've discovered via your video that it is the "Lewis" chessmen I love. And I've learned a little of its history from you. Thank you, Irving Finkel!
Irving has become one of my favorite personalities. Would love to meet him someday in person.
I appreciate the commitment to the bit
Adorable explanation, interesting from the beginning to the end!!! definitly he kept captive the audience!!! I loved also when he was standing background levitating with his wand a crystal ball for the Christmas tree!!! :D
Delightful! Thank you.
Thank you Irving Finkel for another wonderful, and dare I say, magical look at the British Museum.
This fellow is priceless. Hands off, Southeby's!
The world needs more Irving Finkel.
I just KNEW that'd be the film. I am very pleased. xD
Okay that was brilliant. You've just made that moment in the HP films even more magical for me :D
Your videos are marvelous Mr. Irving.
Coldmirror
Guten Tag
Why has this been recommended to me 3 years late? His enthusiasm for things is quite glorious to see.
Irving, this is a brilliant video as are all the ones you appear in. I could follow you around the museum all day and never cease to be fascinated. I'm so glad Tom Scott did a video of you, because I've loved your stuff ever since.
I wish I could afford one of those replica sets. Not that I'm all that good at chess, or anything. Today, I've been starting to watch video after video, but not finishing...until this one. Well worth the time spent.
I need Irving every two weeks at minimum.
I'm here to check on your Irving prescription.
Irvin Finkel reminds me of my favorite professor during my time studying for my Bachelor's degree. Whenever you walked into his office you're immediately transported to a museum and library. Every inch of wall space was covered with books and relics of his travels and collections. I miss him.
They have a style that is very similar to modern cartoons, which is quite astounding considering what we often think about medieval art.
I have to agree that Dr. Finkel is a treasure. It's nice that the Museum has used his charming style to present this group of most fascinating objects.
825 likes. No dislikes. If only the Internet held out and held true to how great this man and story is.
Brilliant video as usual. This is easily my favorite TH-cam channel. Who woulda thought.
I can't explain how much I adore this! How am I just now discovering Irving Finkel??
Read his book, “The Ark Before Noah.” You’ll hear his voice in your head as you do. Also, it’s a terrific read.
I just found this channel 😍. Not much of a history buff but I've been enjoying learning about all these interesting historical pieces
I watch both the British Museum and the Louvre and TH-cam. Well THIS is what makes a difference between the two :)
This chess set is absolutely stunning- you cannot take your eyes out of it - with all the other treasures of the museum you his one make me smile every time I scroll through the photos from my visit there :) dr Finkel talking about it - it is a real treat
You are a wonderful wonder Mr. Finkel.
"Content warning: wizard's chess" is perhaps the best disclaimer ever posted on this website
4:19 LOL, Mr. Finkel in the background like in the movie that shall not be named XD Brilliant.
Could we have Irving Finkel do another curators corner? Can't really get enough of this gem.
Irving Finkel is always a delight to listen to. I think one of the best things I've heard about the Lewis Chessmen is how apparently another pawn was found in a lady's cupboard, and that's as far as Wikipedia would inform me. The lack of information makes this discovery very funny to me.
Love the way Irving gets so excited. I studied English literature at university and I can share his enthusiasm. But it's exciting when your professor /lecturer gets a kick out if something really cool in history. Because the story they tell always seems to contain a little bit more than first meets the eye. Love it!!!
I have also fallen in love with these Chess Pieces.
I first fell in love with them in the intro for Age of Empires 2 (th-cam.com/video/_rS_n3JVTPE/w-d-xo.html), and then when I saw them in that movie Irving was talking about!
holy shit, they have been with me for all this time! I never realized they were in age of empires 2!
oooh that was where I saw them, thanks I just couldn't figure it out.
Irving reminds me of a drinking pal I had back in the 90s' looked like him, knew a lot about history he read all the time.
I have the feeling there will be a lot of German comments soon...
Why? Was habe ich verpasst? ;-)
What did I miss? :-)
Nein
This man always has my attention. I cant get enough of him.
I've found it. I've finally found it. The most charismatic man imaginable.
Thank you for being so public. I think it is very important for guy's like yourself to promote what you do so we can better connect to all that you speak of. Thank you.
For the chess players out there: Anyone but me note that at the beginning of the game snippet there is no knight in the middle of the board? Then a second later the knight IS there, but it is on d5, so when it moves, it goes to e7 ... not e5 as the dialog states. A few seconds later, when the queen attacks, it has magically (pun intended) moved to e5.
I love his rant about the "forgotten" movie while holding the Queen with utter gusto and that the queen was a force to be reckoned with.❤❤ Irving Finkel shall have his own gallery in the BM.
Holy Sh*t! That thumb down ratio is pretty impressive. Best audience on YT ever.
As of today, 19 jul 2018, the ratio is 3727/14 . Quite impressive.
A long time ago I, my mother and my sister were on a visit to the British Museum. After a long walk through the various chambers, my little sister, being five at the time, was very tired and she has started complaining. Then the Lewis Chessmen appeared before me. What a humble but at the same time eye caching exhibit! I had some seconds to admire that magnificent piece of art, those tiny statues that were participating in a war, by the command of two giants. After those seconds my sister started crying loudly so we almost immediately left the museum. Unfortunately that was my first and last visit to that beloved place. It is uncertain why, but those chessmen affected me deeply, it resembled a religious experience. It is curious that after all the museums I have been (and they are too many!) and all the precious artifacts in each of them, this is the one that gave me such an impression. In my mind those horsemen and bishops are moving in spiral orbits around the kings and queens, protected by all the soldiers, allowing me to observe every fine detail of them. That’s why, if I have the opportunity, I would like to pay a visit to this wonderful place once more and devote as time as I wish to those masterpieces! And who knows Dr. Finkel…. I may be able to make you smile, seeing me during this visit….. I may be able to give back to you some of the joy that you and your colleagues have given to me.
my favorite channel on the youtubes..
I could watch Irving Finkle all day. Can someone please give this guy a weekly show!? I need this man in my life.