The real treasure in the British Museum is Irving Finkel. Who else agrees?

@KougajiCalling

6 жыл бұрын

laki74 I do!!

@rociodelpalacio9538

6 жыл бұрын

agreed

@mackenziedrake

6 жыл бұрын

One of them, to be sure.

@cedricburkhart3738

5 жыл бұрын

MacKenzie Drake He is one.

@TioDeive

5 жыл бұрын

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.

@troublewithweebles

5 жыл бұрын

What department, do you suppose?

@davecrupel2817

5 жыл бұрын

@@troublewithweebles historical department?

@pinchopaxtonsgreatestminds9591

4 жыл бұрын

Micheal Caine in disguise..lol.

@johanlindeberg7304

4 жыл бұрын

@@troublewithweebles Muggle studies

@mattpineda8163

4 жыл бұрын

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."

@ReversusLaxus

4 жыл бұрын

And I'm allowed full-moon in stead of half-moon spectacles now ;)

@EdwardNavu

4 жыл бұрын

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.

@dennaamsden4310

4 жыл бұрын

would it really !!!

@pentuplove6542

4 жыл бұрын

The Irishman wouldn't pretend to be English.

@scarletpimpernelagain9124

3 жыл бұрын

Pentu Plove Always a pedant available on the net - even over a children’s bloody novel.

*THE FILM THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED*

@DonCrowder

4 жыл бұрын

Will someone please name the damned film so I can search for a clip?

@hannahwhite8435

4 жыл бұрын

Don Crowder I'm pretty sure he's talking about harry and the philosophers stone

@DonCrowder

4 жыл бұрын

@@hannahwhite8435 Thanks Hannah. Couldn't find a youtube clip of the scene but I did enjoy Irving's reenactment. :)

@hannahwhite8435

4 жыл бұрын

@@DonCrowder no problem :) the link I sent goes to a KZread video of the scene :)

@DonCrowder

4 жыл бұрын

@@hannahwhite8435 Um, what link?

What we need now is a full reproduction of The Lord of The Rings but with Irving Finkel starring as Gandalf.

@ezzong

4 жыл бұрын

@@MadCapMag he's Gandalf, Dumbledore, Odin, and Zeus. He's every majestic bearded man and god ever exist.

@ironguanyin123

4 жыл бұрын

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.

@jenwombatexcelsior

4 жыл бұрын

Don't forget Merlin.

@benjaminjohannessanchez3310

4 жыл бұрын

To see him as Saruman would be interesting as well ahahhhahahahaha

@deadwina

4 жыл бұрын

No we don't.

In which, Irving Finkel shows he is the master of the HUMBLE BRAG.

@artoridagon3847

4 жыл бұрын

Could this perhaps be a Hello Internet reference I'm seeing? :o

@SabraMagdalena

4 жыл бұрын

Can confirm, the brags are quite humble

"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. ;)

"Irving Finkel" is a name that simply screams 'wizard.' Perfect for this man. What an absolutely wonderful person, I love his sense of humor.

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.

@AlexR2648

5 жыл бұрын

Second place can be playing the Game of Ur with him :)

@Hypatia4242

5 жыл бұрын

+AlexR2648 - Yes! I would bid on that without question.

@herusolares5320

4 жыл бұрын

I'd rather want to play Senet or the game of Ur with him

@ricardobautista-garcia8492

4 жыл бұрын

I would play.

@FireflyOnTheMoon

Жыл бұрын

Or auction off Irving

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.

@joanneoliver8610

2 жыл бұрын

I wholeheartedly agree!

@-coffeecat1590

2 жыл бұрын

But he is actually good at his job!

@FireflyOnTheMoon

Жыл бұрын

I am so hoping he knew Pratchett and they shared many a beer.

@bencecserkuti7110

Жыл бұрын

You are so right! I can see him wandering the corridors of the Unseen University.

@uncletiggermclaren7592

Жыл бұрын

Oh, YES.

Seeing how passionate this wizard is about his chess pieces makes me feel like I'm missing out on an entire dimension of life

The effects budget of this series must be enormous. Never been more proud to be a member of the British museum.

Coldmirror

@moritzpaul6385

3 жыл бұрын

Guten Tag

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.

@JoeyVol

4 жыл бұрын

I guarantee you he would win the vote for president in the U.S. and PM in any other English speaking country.

@meeeka

3 жыл бұрын

Such a good beard, David Letterman has begun trying to look like him.

I, too, long for open fields and yoghurt after a long walk around the museum. It's a science fact!

@annemiekewielinga7203

6 жыл бұрын

Ingeborg Anne Rakvåg i had to spit up some tea when he said that...

@k-leb4671

3 жыл бұрын

I just long for a comfy seat.

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

@tylerdrainville1136

4 жыл бұрын

Lol a blind follower, nice.

Who's up for founding/joining the 'Irvin Finkel' Society for the Protection of Great British Eccentrics ?

Irving is my spirit animal

@KougajiCalling

6 жыл бұрын

Roelf van der Merwe Mine too.

@19mmch

5 жыл бұрын

Irving is my Patronus

@troublewithweebles

5 жыл бұрын

If I could pick a second patronising it would be Dr. Finkel.

I didn't even notice the miniature Finkel at 4:18 the first time I watched this. He *is* a wizard!

@handler8838

6 жыл бұрын

Finally its been confirmed what we knew all along!!!

@gillethsandico

4 жыл бұрын

Oh wow. Thank you for pointing that out! Cool

@annasfolklore

Жыл бұрын

He's in his natural element!

this is great! shout out to German KZreadr coldmirror for referring to this video whilst analyzing the first Harry Potter movie frame by frame

@kevinmorrice

2 жыл бұрын

link

@karlmuller4764

2 жыл бұрын

@@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.

Irving Finkel is an amazing person, he is so entertaining.

@loran1212

6 жыл бұрын

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.

Finkel is such a character! I love him :D

@rociodelpalacio9538

6 жыл бұрын

me too! I think he's brilliant.

driest of the dry humor ... love it! "longing of open-fields and yogurt"

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.

@jimpalmer2981

2 жыл бұрын

Or you could just visit his portrait in the Headmaster’s office. The password is “cockroach clusters.”

That sketch was hilarious!

A youtube series of Dr.Finkel presenting historical games would be my idea of heaven!

Dr.Finkle has a magical gift of his own, the gift of bringing history to life.

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!

Gosh I love this guy, and his enthusiasm.

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.

@KougajiCalling

6 жыл бұрын

Nillie That would have been a fun thing for them to add...

@Nelfhithion

5 жыл бұрын

"You play like a goat! Go home and bring back some experienced player!" That would be awesome

@yoppindia

5 жыл бұрын

If you are a kid it will talk to you.

When I woke up today, I didn't expect a Curator's Corner video would be the highlight of my whole week

Irving has become one of my favorite personalities. Would love to meet him someday in person.

I could legit listen to Irvin Finkel for hours. Please get this man a podcast at the very least!!

Hat sich noch jemand nach dem neuen Harry Podcast hierher verirrt ?

Irving Finkel is always excellent. He should have his own channel.

Yay, by far my favorite presenter in the entire museum.

COLDMIRROR

Irving Finkel. One of the best curators ever. He drags so beautifully our attention to culture and history.

@tylerdrainville1136

4 жыл бұрын

Can’t stand listening to the guy for more than 40 seconds

Could we have Irving Finkel do another curators corner? Can't really get enough of this gem.

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!

I need Irving every two weeks at minimum.

@iancalandro8180

6 жыл бұрын

I'm here to check on your Irving prescription.

"Content warning: wizard's chess" is perhaps the best disclaimer ever posted on this website

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.

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.

I envy they people working at the British Museum . I love every single one of your curators. But especially Irving Finkel !

I truly admire this guy. More Curator's corners, please! I finally found a reason to go to London someday!

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 am so happy i have discovered Mr Finkel. What an absolutely enchanting storyteller.

In spring of 2015 our 50th wedding anniversary nearly two month trek through Europe ended in British Museum, seeing these chess pieces, the Elgin marbles, and the Rosetta Stone. Many bucket list items were checked. P.S. The museum restaurant was wonderful, too, for lunch.

More Finkel! Could listen to him all day.

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.

@kimcraddock957

3 жыл бұрын

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.

My dearest Mr. Finklel, I absolutely love you. You are the treasure sir.

I really love this reenactment 😂 HP holds a special place in my heart, and it's been a brilliant idea to have curators talk about what pieces hold a special place in THEIR hearts.

Thank you Irving Finkel for another wonderful, and dare I say, magical look at the British Museum.

I can't explain how much I adore this! How am I just now discovering Irving Finkel??

@jimpalmer2981

2 жыл бұрын

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 absolutely appreciate that Mr. Irving Finkel is a part of our world.

Irving Finkel God and the Universe was showing off when you were made. You knowledge is so enlightening and you are beyond fabulous. Kind deeds change lives. Australia 9.30pm 5 February 2021

Thanks,Coldmirror! 👌

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 (kzread.info/dash/bejne/kaaHwdBserm6gKg.html), and then when I saw them in that movie Irving was talking about!

@Apostate_ofmind

6 жыл бұрын

holy shit, they have been with me for all this time! I never realized they were in age of empires 2!

@gummihu

6 жыл бұрын

oooh that was where I saw them, thanks I just couldn't figure it out.

There are a many good stories set down on paper, papirus and stones, but when it comes to telling a good one, Irving Finkel is the man!! What a pleasure!!

I LOVE that the "forgotten" movie used this man's set. That's excellent.

Okay that was brilliant. You've just made that moment in the HP films even more magical for me :D

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

4:19 LOL, Mr. Finkel in the background like in the movie that shall not be named XD Brilliant.

Brilliant video as usual. This is easily my favorite KZread channel. Who woulda thought.

I just really love Irving Finkell. We need more of him!

I watch both the British Museum and the Louvre and KZread. Well THIS is what makes a difference between the two :)

I love the facial expressions on the pieces, especially the knight that is biting in the shield.

The line between madness and genius is a fine one. And finkle straddles both like a boss

825 likes. No dislikes. If only the Internet held out and held true to how great this man and story is.

You have a nice chess set Gandalf

@MeMoshRocks

6 жыл бұрын

I think you might be confusing professor Dumbledore with somebody else.

@tams805

6 жыл бұрын

BE QUIET DWARF!

Love that wizard Finkel in the background decorating the tree!

The greatest thing about the British museum is Irving Finkle.

I have the feeling there will be a lot of German comments soon...

@thekingsdaughter4233

3 жыл бұрын

Why? Was habe ich verpasst? ;-) What did I miss? :-)

@kenbee1957

3 жыл бұрын

Nein

We too couldn't afford to buy a replica set when I was young, but my parents did buy a kit so we could make them ourselves, which we did and had many years of play out of them. The kit contained a set of rubber molds and some resin (though sadly I now know they were wrong to include ivory and black resins when it should have been ivory and red). I've no idea if the resin kit was officially sanctioned in any way by the musems though.

@kme

6 жыл бұрын

Duncan Booth I had one of these too, but sadly, we've moved so many times it's been long lost. 😭

@PLuMUK54

4 жыл бұрын

I'd forgotten that - goodness, I can smell those rubber moulds now, and feel the worry of whether they would wobble and spoil the cast.

Chess is the only game I play, it actually helps me see how some days I am more alert than others, I realized I don't wake up thinking with the same effectiveness everyday. They are different

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.

I can't get enough of these videos. Amazing job from the curators and the museum!

I've found it. I've finally found it. The most charismatic man imaginable.

It's the one chewing on his shield that just got me. Things like this are the best, things that let you see that the men of the past were no different to us here today; and one of the best things that establishes that connection is humor. The graffiti of Pompeii is similar in this nature, or "Halfdan made these runes".

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.

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.

You are a wonderful wonder Mr. Finkel.

Why has this been recommended to me 3 years late? His enthusiasm for things is quite glorious to see.

This man's love of chess pieces, and hate of THE FILM THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED is really funny.

Holy Sh*t! That thumb down ratio is pretty impressive. Best audience on YT ever.

@rhoddryice5412

5 жыл бұрын

As of today, 19 jul 2018, the ratio is 3727/14 . Quite impressive.

Clearly the movie he couldn't remember the name of, was Good Will Hunting ;) ...I need to get back to coding that game of Ur that Irving inspired me to start...

@WilL-DaNG

4 жыл бұрын

@@Churdington bruh ruins the joke

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 love Dr. Finkle. He's such an interesting person. I enjoy listening to him speak about artifacts. It would make a great show just having Dr. Finkle show off artifacts from the British museum.

my favorite channel on the youtubes..

He reminds me of Terry Pratchett.

@njones420

5 жыл бұрын

yes, some very similar mannerisms, and speech RIP TP!

@George-vv5ok

3 жыл бұрын

Such a good author rest in price sir Terry Pratchett.

The Curators in these videos are to be treasured, it is obvious why they are selected to work at the British Museum.

I should be asleep for work in the morning, but I'm loving listening to Irving talk about history!

Brilliant!