FallOut 3 Glitch?

ok so I was wondering around and found 15 Gnome chess pieces in a satellite station and picked them up went to my megaton house and went to place them on my chess bored but when I doped them they went invisible.
I found them Under my carpet but when I moved them from under the carpet they showed as 1 Big gnome so I put it on the chess bored figuring that they would separate or some thing but they didn't.
Even if i put them back in my inventory or have them in the house they say their is (15) but only shows 1 Big ars one.
Does this mean my plans for a nice looking chess set is gone?:cry:confused