West Sea Co. SAILOR FOLK ART Catalog Page 11

West Sea Company

SAILOR FOLK ART

Catalog Page 11

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11.04 P.O.W. GAMEBOX. Authentic late 18th or very early 19th century “game casket” made by French prisoners in British prisons during the Napoleonic Wars. This fine example is constructed entirely of beef bone and wood, with colored paper and even some genuine gold foil! The box, in the form of a 4-poster bed with bone columns, is finely constructed of pine with pinned and dowelled fittings. Overlaying the wooden structure the entire surface is covered by meticulously carved bone panels done with incredible detail. These are affixed in the classic manner with scores of metal rivets! The sliding lid is “domed” and decorated with reticulated bone panels overlying green paper and two “clubs” of gold. All four sides of the box are decorated in a similar manner with “sashes” and recurring designs. The interior of the box is divided into 3 compartments. The largest houses a full set of 55 double nines bone domino pieces! The second holds hand-painted bone playing cards of which there are more than 25 pieces. The third compartment holds bone die. This rare set measures 9 inches log, 3 ½ inches wide and 2 ¼ inches high. The entire presentation is in a remarkable state of original preservation considering the delicacy of its construction and its 200 plus years. 2295

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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

CONTENTS

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 a 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. 495

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11.16 SEA CHEST with PAINTING. Classic 3rd quarter of the 19th century American 6-board sailor’s chest made of pine. This sturdy chest is of hand-dovetailed construction with “canted” sides and protruding “kick board” around the base. The broad one-piece pine lid (cracked) opens on its old original hand-forged iron strap hinges. Both ends of the lid are fitted with overhanging “skirts” for reinforcement and watertight integrity. The interior retains the original till with folding lid in grained milk paint. This chest was once equipped with an old fashioned lever lock closing on a striker plate with two “eyes.” The lock was long since removed but the key escutcheon on the front and striker plate are still present. After the lock was removed it was replaced with a folding hasp – now an antique in its own right! Both ends of this chest are equipped with the original forged iron handles affixed with rose head nails. The piece-de-resistance is the sailor folk art painting of the vessel on which it served, the 3-masted full-rigged ship WASHINGTON, identified on the pennant flying from the mainmast. The house flag flies from the mizzen, while the American ensign boldly flies from the spanker. This old chest is in good, sound condition, evidencing much use but no abuse. There are several small nicks, gouges and cracks. The exterior surfaces are in their original paint within interesting mottled blue-green designs on the front and sides. The lid is a very deep greenish-black, well-worn and exhibiting crazing. The chest measures 39 ½ inches long by 19 ½ inches wide and stands 16 inches tall. The tapered cant is 19 inches wide at the base, narrowing to 16 inches at the top. It is rare to find such a chest identified with a painting of the ship on which it served!

According to the 1885 edition of “The Record of American and Foreign Shipping,” the full-rigged sailing ship WASHINGTON, signal letters RLCM, was built at Williamsburg, Long Island, New York in 1849. She had a length of 201 feet and displaced 1813 tons. In 1885 she was operated by T. Dunham’s Nephew & Co. and home ported in New York under the command of Captain F. Patterson. As of 1886 she was no longer listed.

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11.15 RARE SEA CHEST. Classic mid-19th century or earlier 6-board American seaman’s chest. This diminutive sailor-made trunk was constructed in the traditional manner with slightly tapered sides or “cant” using hand-dovetailed joints. The old forged iron strap hinges are functional and the two lidded tills are present in the interior. The striker plate for the lock is still attached to the lid, but its lock was removed long ago. In its place now is an old metal hasp. The exterior of this chest retains its original old brown grain-painted surface which is well worn and alligatored with age. The amazing aspect of this early sea chest is its very rare matching pair of DOUBLE beckets! These are woven, wormed and covered with tarred canvas in a seamanlike manner. Spanish hitching augments the tops of the handles which are secured to the “bolt” with Turk’s head knots. The inner beckets with brass grommets are also secured with Turk’s head knots. The carved wooden cleats are nicely adorned with subtle diamond shapes. This diminutive chest measures 16 inches wide on top by 17 ½ wide at the bottom. It is 36 inches long and stands 16 ¼ inches high. Overall condition is very good and sturdy, given the harsh environment such chests endured during long voyages at sea. An old age crack runs the entire length of the single pine board lid and there are numerous minor dings and losses. The rare beckets, though well worn, are still very sound. In all, a most desirable example of this most scarce of sea chests. In over 35 years in this business, this is the first such chest we have had the pleasure of offering! 1895

The “Bible” of nautical knots, authored by whaling photographer and writer Clifford Ashley, “The Ashley Book of Knots,” 1944, Doubleday & Company, Garden City, New York, on page 572 shows but one illustration of a double becket out of 7,000 drawings representing 3,900 knots! The end covers depict a single photograph of such a becket on a square chest. The text on page 572 states, “3630. Double beckets, for two hands, are very rare. Three-Strand Manropes. Eyes, needle hitching. Turk’s Heads, Three-Lead x Four-Bight x Four-Ply. Bails, cloth-covered and wormed.”

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11.09 AMERICAN SHIP IN BOTTLE DIORAMA. Good, early 1900’s sailor-made bottle model of a 3-masted bark, which exhibits many of the characteristics sought after by collectors of this folk art form:

1. Clear, clean glass bottle of early form.
2. Carved wooden ship hull with rigging rove through masts and spars.
3. Ship flying American flag and pennant.
4. Colorful background depicting a town with several buildings.
5. Foreground with small steamship.
6. Original sealed stopper.
7. Original wooden display stand.

In short, a very pleasing, original and highly collectible example. The bottle measures 10 inches long by 3 ¼ inches in diameter and the nicely-made solid teak stand measures 11 inches long by 3 inches wide. 395

DETAIL SHIP
STAND

11.84 SAILOR'S WOOL. Genuine mid-19th century sailor folk art portrait of a full-rigged ship-of-the-line meticulously hand-stitched on sail canvas using woolen thread! This classic "woolwork" broadside depicts an 80 gun man-o-war flying the British Naval ensign aft with its commissioning pennant streaming from the mainmast. Standing and running rigging are all carefully depicted, as expected of a sailor intimately familiar with the details of his ship. This handsome portrayal measures 13 1/2 by 21 inches sight and is housed in its original gilt-lined bird's eye maple frame -- a standard for such presentations. The frame measures 18 by 25 1/2 inches. Overall condition is excellent. All lines are in tact and there are no losses to the wool as is so often the case with such pictures. Though toned with age, this woolwork is still very bright and colorful.

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11.11 CASED DOMINO SET. Good, 19th century set of whale bone and ebony dominoes. This full set of double sixes contains 28 pieces of unusually fine quality. Each game piece is made of dense panbone, ivory-like in its appearance, sandwiched to an ebony slab, precisely riveted with a brass pin. Particularly unusual is the fact that each of the dominoes are colored in red! All of the bones faces bear their original polish and have acquired a deep age patina. The set is housed within its original hardwood box with machine dovetailed joints and sliding lid. 6 1/2 inches long by 2 3/8 inches wide and 2 ¼ inches high. Original and outstanding in all respects. A very nice, uniquely polychromed set. 295


BOX	IN BOX

11.92 SEAM RUBBER. Nicely carved 19th century solid rosewood sail maker's seam rubber. This working sailor's tool has a faceted diamond shaped handle which gives way to an octagonal shaft terminating in a broad tapered blade. The shaft has distinctive raised "nibs" where it meets the blade on each side. 4 1/2 inches long by 2 1/4 inches wide. Outstanding original condition with a deep age patina. 695

This is the exact seam rubber pictured on page 126 of Norman Flayderman's book, "Scrimshaw and Scrimshanders, Whales and Whaleman." We will document this fact in writing to the purchaser.


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11.73 P.O.W. BOX. Rare late 18th or very early 19th century box as made by French prisoners in British prisons during the Napoleonic Wars. This example of P.O.W. straw work consists of a lidded box made of high quality rag or vellum paper, meticulously overlaid by marquetry straw work in a checkerboard pattern on the top surrounded by parallel bands on the top and sides. Contained within is an early, period mirror with telling irregular striations in the glass, surrounded by a hand-punched decorative foliate paper border. This diminutive box measures 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches and is one inch thick. It is in a remarkable state of original preservation given its age and the fragile material from which it is constructed. As such it represents a very rare surviving form of the prisoners' output. 275


TOP DETAIL	MIRROR

11.51 FOLK ART CARVING. Incredible 19th century whimsy carved from a single block of wood. This outstanding example of the carver's art depicts a hook and eye attached to a "capture ball" encased in a cage which is is attached to another eye carved with a large circular ring. The amazing aspect of this carving is that it is fashioned from a single piece of pine, requiring both planning and skill to execute in such a detailed manner. The carving measures 10 1/2 inches long and is in outstanding original condition with an excellent oxidized natural wood finish with beautiful patination. 195

11.99 SHIP IN BOTTLE. Genuine late 19th century ship in a bottle model of a 4-masted auxiliary steam sailing bark. This extremely detailed bottle model features a large, well proportioned carved wooden hull with raised foc'sle forward and raised poop deck with tumblehome aft. Both are meticulously rigged with lifelines -- a detail rarely found in bottle models. The ship is also equipped with its foc'sle capstan, two lifeboats and Charlie Noble, prominent deck house with smoke stack amidships and skylight aft. The 4 large wooden masts are set into the ship's hull, in the manner found in these older models. The yard arms are finely fashioned and beautifully scaled to the hull. In contrast, the standing and running rigging are rove with oversize glass bead "blocks." The hull of the vessel is painted in the traditional manner with faux gun ports. The long necked bottle has a stylized "W.W." impressed on the bottom and bears numerous bubbles with a slight purplish hue in testament to its age. The bottle measures 12 inches long and the ship measures 6 inches long. Complete with original wooden display stand with mortised joints. Offered here as originally sealed and in untouched condition. Such auxiliary steam sailing ships were prevalent in the brief period between 1850 and 1870.


SHIP	STAND

11.96 CANDLESTICKS. A very unusual example of 19th century sailor folk art in the form of a matched pair of candle holders. This set consists of turned inner wooden cores overlaid by meticulous fancy ropework known as McNamara work or sailors' macramé. The surfaces were then shellacked to make them durable and watertight. The bases retain their original non-scratch felt bottoms. 10 inches tall by 4 3/4 inches in diameter. Excellent original condition exhibiting a deep rich age patina. 195/pr

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11.94 SAILOR'S NEEDLE CASE. Huge 19th century sailmaker's needle case. This exceptionally large 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 amazing example measures 9 1/2 inches long by 1 3/4 inches in diameter and is complete with 2 old triangular-shaped heavy sail canvas needles, both with English markings. Excellent original condition with a rich old surface. A simply great deck hand's needle case from the days of sail! The largest example we have ever seen. 495

CLOSED

11.75 SEAM RUBBER. Nicely carved mid-19th device used by a sailor to crease a fold in sail cloth prior to stitching. This genuine sailmaker's tool is fashioned from a single piece of oak with an octagonally-faceted shaft, tapered "blade" and rounded knob. It is rich with wear and patina attesting to years of actual use aboard a sailing ship. 4 1/2 inches long. A "living" piece of sailing history. 195

REVERSE

11.60 BELL ROPE. Hard to find 19th century sailor-woven macramé bell rope. This beautifully made decorative ship's appliance is woven entirely of small cotton cordage available to the talented deck hand while at sea. It consists of a bulbous lanyard done in spiral needle hitching which terminates with Turk's head knots on each end. The handle is finished with the same hitching and another Turk's head at the bottom. This fine example of 19th century sailor folk art knot work measures 16 1/2 inches long. It has a nice slightly worn surface with excellent patina indicative of its age. It is quite sturdy and pliant and would be an exceptional accent piece for a nice bell. Antique bell ropes of this quality are rare! 275

Also see catalog pages 2, 4 and 20 for more sailor-made folk art items