11. Sailor Folk Art

11.73  P.O.W. TRAVELING  BOX.  Genuine late 18th century or very early 1800’s lidded box with a mirror in the lid, made by a gifted French prisoner incarcerated in a British prison during the Napoleonic Wars.    The entire upper portion of the box is meticulously covered in colored straw inlaid with intricate geometric patterns, the foremost of which is an elaborate checkerboard with the “grain” of the straw running in opposed diagonal directions.  Inside, the mirror is fringed with cut out paper in the form of clover leafs.  The age of the mirror is telling, being extremely early glass with significant striations.  3 ½ by 2 ½ by 1 inches.  Excellent original condition with only a couple of minor losses -- remarkable for a piece which is over 200 years old!  199

11.43  IDENTIFIED SEA CHEST.  Truly exceptional 19th century seaman’s trunk with all the bells and whistles collectors avidly seek.  This classic 6 board American chest has sloping “canted” sides made of New England pine with hand dove-tailed construction bearing its original chocolate brown paint.   In true sea chest fashion it has a molded “skirt” on the lid which effectively prevented water from entering the top and a raised “kick board” bottom on all four sides which prevented water seeping in from the deck.  The interior exhibits a single drawer till, iron lock and striker plate, and traditional old hand-forged strap hinges.  The tour de force is the oil on sail canvas painting in the lid depicting the massive sailing bark at sea under full sail, identified below as the “4 . MAST . BARQUE .“EDWARD  SEWILL (sic)” .  BATH . MAINE . U.S.A.”  The huge square rigger with towering skysail royals is shown flying the American flag from her spanker aft with a 3-funneled liner depicted in the distance.  The character and execution of the painting is charmingly naïve with good attention to deck detail -- as expected of a sailor/artist.  Several crewmen are depicted.  The painting measures 26 by 16 ½ inches sight and is rimmed by another ½ inch strip of canvas held by numerous small tacks.   Although the chest itself may be a half century older than its turn-of-the-century identification, the context of the time in which the painting was rendered must be considered.  America had just won a resounding victory in the Spanish-American War.  The Spanish fleet was decimated.  Patriotic exuberance was at an all time high as the United States confidently entered the coming century as a world power.  With that noted, the finishing touches of this sea chest’s beckets and cleats can be appreciated.  The lovely extra large beckets are intricately woven of leather with Spanish hitching and Turks head knots.  The decoratively-carved wooden cleats are painted with patriotic Union shields on both ends.  40 inches long by 16 ½ inches high.  17 inches wide at the base by 15 ½ inches wide on the lid.  There are the typical cracks and nicks expected of a working sea chest well over 100 years old.  But these are merely character marks, not considered to be damage.  Accordingly this handsome chest can be rated as being in “excellent original condition.”  There is no doubt that this sailor member of the merchant sail fraternity was extremely proud to be an American at sea. SOLD

11.36  CLASSIC SHIP IN A BOTTLE.  A most excellent late 1800’s bottle diorama consisting of a 4-masted American bark backed by a charming town.   This is one of the oldest ships in bottles we offer, evidenced by its hand-blown whiskey bottle with bulbous neck, thick bottom and bubbled glass.  The hull is of one piece carved wooden construction set into a blue putty sea.   The prow is identified with the name “BETTY.”  The masts and spars are well proportioned and the ship is appropriately rigged with taut original lines.  The ship flies its house flag “F.S.” from the mainmast and the American ensign from the spanker boom aft.   In the background is a classic diorama depicting a town of 6 houses, a church, a windmill and a large lighthouse.  The shore is lined with at least 11 “leafy” trees carved from wood.  The gray sky above the town is done in an unusual manner -- painted on the outside of the bottle.  The finishing touch is the stopper which is nicely painted in patriotic red white and blue.  Exactly 12 inches long by 3 ½ inches in diameter.  This bottle model is crystal clear and the contents are colorful and bright.  It has been beautifully preserved for well over 100 years in pristine original condition!  695

11.35  HUGE IDENTIFABLE SHIP DIORAMA.   The largest antique ship in a bottle we have ever seen!  This early example of sailor folk art in a bottle dates from the turn-of-the-last century and undoubtedly depicts the one and only 5-masted sailing ship PREUSSEN.   It features this exceptionally large 5-masted, square-rigged ship flying the American flag from the spanker boom aft, the house flag from the mainmast and a colorful pennant from the aftermast.  The ship’s hull is carved from a single piece of wood, itself measuring 9 inches long inclusive of the bowsprit!  It has 3 deck houses, a capstan on the foc’sle and two life boats on deck.  The masts and spars are nicely proportioned and all rigging is intact.   Steaming alongside the ship on its port side is a charming 2-masted vessel belching cotton “smoke” from its stack.  In the background a large town consisting of 5 buildings and an imposing lighthouse is depicted.  All of this is set in a colorful putty sea together with a cliff shoreline.  This remarkable presentation is contained in a clear molded glass bottle with a greenish tinge, the top of which is embossed “ONE GALLON” and is sealed with its original cork stopper with tassel.   It measures an impressive 13 ½ inches long by 5 ½ inches in diameter!  Capping off this display, the bottle rests on its custom, solid teak stand of handsome proportion and finish with two supports done in the traditional way using mortise and tenon joints.  The stand measures 14 3/8 inches long by 6 ¼ inches wide and is 1 1/4 inches thick. SOLD

While the vessel in this diorama is depicted flying the American ensign, it was likely made in homage to PREUSSEN’s single visit to an American port in April 1908, when by all accounts she reportedly wowed New Yorkers with her size and unique design.

PREUSSEN,  the only 5-masted square-rigged sailing ship ever built, was launched on May 7, 1902 at the J. C. Tecklenborg shipyard in Geestemunde, Germany to the plans of chief designer Dr. Georg Wilhelm Claussen.  Commissioned on July 31, 1902, hull number 179, she was made of steel 482 feet in length overall and displaced 11,150 tons.   She departed Bremerhaven, the day of her commissioning, to Iquique on her maiden voyage under the command of Captain Boye Richard Petersen, who actually assisted the naval architect with her design.  Legend has it that Kaiser Wilhelm II, while visiting the 5-masted barque POSTOI  in June 1899, asked the Captain when a 5-masted full-rigged ship would "finally come."  This inspired POSTOI’s owner, Carl Heinrich Laeisz, to order the ship.

As built, this unique vessel could weather the fiercest storm and even navigate in a force 9 gale.  In such conditions it took 8 men to hold the 6 ½ foot double helm wheel!  PREUSSEN  plied the nitrate trade to Chile, setting speed records in the process.  Due to her appearance, size and excellent sailing characteristics seamen called her the "Queen of  Queens of the Sea."  She made twelve round trips between Hamburg and Chile and a round the world voyage via New York to Yokohoma, Japan under charter to the Standard Oil Company.  The mighty Preußen, as she was called by her sailors, had only two skippers in her brief career, Captain Boye Richard Petersen (11 voyages) and Captain Jochim Hans Hinrich Nissen (2 voyages and the collision). Both masters developed their skills sailing such a huge ship under Captain Robert Hilgendorf, late master of the POSTOI.

On November 6, 1910, outbound on her 14th voyage to Chile, PREUSSEN  was rammed by the British cross-channel steamer BRIGHTON  8 nautical miles south of Newhaven.  Unwittingly, the BRIGHTON  attempted to cross PREUSSEN’s bow, underestimating her unusually fast 16 knot speed and ignoring her right-of-way as a sailing vessel.   PREUSSEN  was seriously damaged and lost much of her forward rigging, making it impossible to steer her to safety.   BRIGHTON  returned to Newhaven to summon aid.  The tug ALERT was dispatched to assist PREUSSEN.   But a typical November gale thwarted attempts to sail or tow the huge vessel to safety.   Intensions were for her to anchor off Dover, but both anchor chains broke and PREUSSEN  was driven onto the rocks at Crab Bay where she ultimately sank in 3 ½ fathoms of water.  While the crew and some of the cargo were saved, PREUSSEN  was unsalvageable.  BRIGHTON’s master was found responsible for the collision and his license was revoked.   To this day the  ribs of PRUESSEN can still be seen off Crab Bay during the Spring low tides.

11.32 SHIP DIORAMA IN A LIGHT BULB.   Especially rare, absolutely delightful sailor folk art depiction of a Dutch steamship at sea with the shore and a town in the background -- all contained in a very early 1900's light bulb! This charming presentation features an old 2-masted steamship with 2 funnels belching (cotton) smoke and flying the Dutch ensign. The detail on this small ship is truly amazing. It features an open bridge abaft of which are 4 classic ventilators and an engineroom skylight. The foc’sle is equipped with capstan, windlass and lifelines!  Aft, the raised poop deck has a skylight and more incredible miniature life lines, not expected on a model of this size. Portholes are depicted on the deck house and along the bulwark. The town in the background consists of 4 buildings, a church, a windmill and a tree. At the extreme left a well proportioned lighthouse stands as a sentinel. This early light bulb is hand-blown, evidenced by the glass pontil nib on the end.   The threaded brass base is marked "PAT NOV 8 1904."  The entire bulb measures 5 inches long and is 2 ½ inches in diameter at the widest.  Outstanding original condition.  Clear and bright.  Complete with lovely removable custom-made solid African mahogany display stand with felt bottom.   The stand measures 2 ½ by 5 12/ inches and is 1 ¼ inches thick.  For the ship in a bottle collector, this is the ultimate addition!  Circa 1910.  795

This bulb most certainly is American with patent markings and date, the duration of which was 12 years. Accordingly the latest it could date is 1916, prior to World War I!

11.30  SHIP IN A BOTTLE DIORAMA.   Extra nice early 20th century ship in a bottle diorama depicting a large 4-masted bark passing a town of exceptional size and complexity.  There are at least 30 buildings, several carved wooden trees and a large clock tower in the background.   The ship, with sleek, graceful hull, is carved from a single piece of wood painted blue with a salmon deck.  It flies the owner’s flag from the fore and the Italian merchant ensign aft.  This fine example of sailor folk art is signed on banners above the town “Armandad Elina / Recordad di mi / Remember to me.”  All of this is captured in time within a long neck whiskey bottle of clear glass, showing its age with a pontil on the bottom and bubbles in the glass.  It is capped off with the original cork bearing a star sealed under sealing wax.  The bottle is 11 inches long by 4 inches in diameter.  A remarkable feature of this presentation is its charming wooden stand with classic chipped-carved border and muted green, red and yellow paint.  The stand measures 8 inches long by 3 inches wide.   Condition is exceptional.  The bottle is clear and the interior colors clean and bright.  595

11.18  SHIP IN A BOTTLE DIORAMA.  Classic early 1900’s ship in a bottle model depicting a 3-masted bark flying an American flag, passing an American lighthouse station.  The well-detailed ship has a carved and painted wooden hull which plies a green putty sea.  The prominent lighthouse at the rear of the bottle stands next to early Marconi long wire transmission towers, followed by the charming lighthouse keeper’s residence   with two chimneys and a large flagpole flying an oversize American flag!  The scene is contained within a molded glass bottle reading “ONE QUART.”  The long neck of the bottle is decorated with sailor macramé in the form of a Turk’s head knot and stoppered with the original cork under sealing wax.  11 ¼ inches long by 3 ½ inches in diameter.  The bottle is clean, clear and bright.  A very nice example of this early form of sailor folk art, approximately 100 years old at good value.  449 

11.19 SAILOR'S NEEDLE CASE. Extra large 19th century sailmaker's needle case. This very fine example of working sailor folk art consists of a carved wooden tube with a matching "plug" cap which joins with a tight press fit. Over each is meticulously woven decorative Spanish hitching done in traditional sailor fashion known as McNamara work or "macramé." Such a covering was functional, providing a wear resistant, easily gripped covering which also spoke of the sailor's abilities as an accomplished seaman. This extra large specimen measures 8 ½ inches long by 1 ½ inches in diameter and is complete with 2 old sail canvas needles. One is triangular-shaped with English markings and the other has an unusual curved “spade” shape. Excellent original condition with a deep, rich old shellacked surface. A very handsome deck hand's needle case from the days of sail. Certainly one of the nicest examples currently on the market. 395