British Nautical Objects
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Place of Origin: British
Anchor-shaped Seashell Valentine Large Diorama with Architectural Ruins
Located in Downingtown, PA
Shells of the Sea, Stones of the Past: Edwardian Shellwork Anchor Diorama ⚓
________________________________________
This is a wonderful and highly symbolic Edwardian Shellwork Diorama, dating from the transition between the Victorian and Edwardian periods. It represents a charming piece of seaside folk art and a sentimental souvenir.
• Form: The diorama is shaped like a ship's anchor, a classic maritime symbol representing hope, steadfastness, and security—qualities highly valued in a sailor's sweetheart.
• Frame: The entire anchor shape is created using densely applied sea shells, likely small whelks and periwinkles, arranged over a backing board, with larger, decorative shells used to emphasize the anchor's stock and flukes.
• Central Diorama: The circular, convex glass centerpiece, protected by beveled glass, frames a three-dimensional scene:
o Image: A chromolithograph depicting romantic architectural ruins or a garden...
Category
Late 19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Shell
Scottish Early 20th C. Pond Yacht
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This charming antique “pond yacht” from Scotland will appeal to the sailor, the toy collector, the kid-at-heart types alike for the sporty and real...
Category
20th Century Folk Art British Nautical Objects
Materials
Metal
British Sailor
s Woolwork of Named HMS Atalanta Coming into Port
Located in Downingtown, PA
Large and Historically Significant Sailor's Woolwork of HMS Atalanta,
British,
Circa 1880.
This large and impressive sailor's woolwork, or "woolie," is a richly colored and wonderf...
Category
Late 19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
19th Century English Folk Art Encased Ship Diorama
Located in London, GB
19th Century Folk Art Encased Ship Diorama
A delightful and highly decorated example of a late 19th century English folk art ships model diorama...
Category
19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Glass, Wood
English Type GSR Nautical Binnacle in Copper/ Brass and Mahogany Housining
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Made by John Lilley & Gillie Ltd., England. A standard binnacle form in copper/brass housing with arms set with red and taupe painted iron Kelvin's balls (the taupe one with open hol...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial British Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass, Copper
British Sailor
s Woolwork of a Tea Clipper
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of a Tea Clipper,
Circa 1875
The large sailor's woolwork or woolie as they are also called depicts a port side view of a tea clipper ship...
Category
Mid-19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Late 19th Century Cased British Sailing Vessel Folk Art Maritime
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A late 19th/early 20th century cased display of a painted British sailing vessel, built by Joseph Packer, who was a carpenter in Ramsey
The detailed s...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Blown Glass, Pine
19th Century Sailor
s Woolie with Ship at Anchor Within Oval Cartouche, ca 1850
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie with Ship at Anchor Within Oval Cartouche, ca 1850, depicting a square-rigged single decker warship under furled sails, anchor chain leading off...
Category
Mid-19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Sailor
s Woolwork (Woolie) with Heart Valentine and Flag Surround
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Flag of Nations Woolwork with Heart Valentine and Flag Surround,
Circa 1880
The distinctive British sailor's woolwork or woolie showcases a flag designed in a patriotic sty...
Category
1880s Victorian Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
British Sailor
s Large Woolwork of a Royal Navy Ship Under Full Sail
Located in Downingtown, PA
Seafaring Artistry: A British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy Ship,
Circa 1865–75
This remarkable British sailor's woolwork, or "wool...
Category
Mid-19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Antique British Colonial Heart Form Sailors Valentine
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming 19th Century English heart form sailors valentine ambitiously handcrafted with exotic seashells around a sailboat image as seen through a glass lens.
Category
Late 19th Century British Colonial Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Shell
19th Century Sailor
s Woolie of the Ship JANE Under Full Sail
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early to Mid 19th Century Sailor's Woolie of the Merchant Ship JANE Under Full Sail, circa 1840s, a hand-crafted sailor's woolwork picture depicting a larboard side view of fully rig...
Category
1840s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Sailor
s Woolwork of Royal Navy Battleship Coming Into Port
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Second Rate Battleship Coming into Port,
Circa 1865
The British sailor's woolwork has a dramatic view of a Royal Navy Second Rate Battleship coming i...
Category
1860s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
British Sailor
s Woolwork of a Royal Navy Second Rate Battleship
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy Second Rate Battleship,
Circa 1875
The charming simple sailor's woolie depicts a starboard side view of a Royal Navy second rate battleship...
Category
1870s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Sailor
s Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship with Red Ensign with Two Bermudan Ketches
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship with Red Ensign off the Coast of Bermuda,
Circa 1865
The British sailor's woolwork or woolie, as this type of artwork is called, depicts a port ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
British Sailor
s Woolwork Picture of Five Ships Off a Coastline
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork Picture of Five Ships offshore,
Circa 1875
The large sailor's woolwork or sailor's woolie depicts five different ships. The largest ship is in the center ...
Category
1870s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
A folk art diorama model passenger ship in a bottle English circa 1930
Located in Central England, GB
This early 20th century ship in a bottle diorama is of a rarer subject being an early large steam ocean going passenger liner set in a scene just off the shoreline with a lighthouse ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art British Nautical Objects
Materials
Glass
English Brass Yacht Binnacle Mounted on Mahogany Rope Base, Southampton. C. 1870
Located in Charleston, SC
English Nautical brass yacht binnacle mounted on a mahogany rope base with an oval glass viewing port, gimballed compass, central carrying ring, and the original brass vented side li...
Category
1870s Victorian Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass
19th Century Sailor
s Woolie of Flag Bedecked Triple Decker Ship of the Line
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Woolie of Flag-Bedecked Triple Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1850, a British sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture with a larboard side view of a triple decke...
Category
1850s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Ship in bottle diorama "Seamaid" English circa 1920
Located in Central England, GB
This is a very fine example of the art of building a model ship in a glass bottle. It is constructed in a large rectangular whiskey bottle. The ship is a three masted barque named Se...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art British Nautical Objects
Materials
Fabric, Glass
$1,353 / item
Sailor
s Keepsake: Edwardian Shellwork Valentine Diorama of Ship
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Keepsake: Edwardian Shellwork Valentine Diorama 🐚
________________________________________
This is a charming and historically evocative Edwardian Shellwork Diorama, a clas...
Category
Late 19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Shell
19th Century sailor
s Woolie of a British Frigate, circa 1870
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a British Frigate, circa 1870 , a British sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture with a large starboard side view of a frigate with single gun deck, u...
Category
1870s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
British Sailor
s Woolwork of Royal Navy Ships in a Bay
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ships in a Bay,
Circa 1860-75
This charming sailor's woolwork, commonly referred to as a "woolie," presents a Royal Navy frigate at anchor in...
Category
Mid-19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
British Sailor
s Woolwork of Three Royal Navy Ships, Circa 1885
Located in Downingtown, PA
British sailor's woolwork of three royal navy ships
Circa 1885
The British sailor woolwork depicts an unusual scene of three different types of Royal Navy Ships which are all flying the White...
Category
1880s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Early 20th Century Folk Art Scratch Built Ship
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Folk Art Scratch Built Ship
Without doubt, one of the nicest examples of an early 20th Century English folk art ship model named Victoria. Amazing detail and charm...
Category
1920s Folk Art Vintage British Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass
19th Century sailor
s Woolie of a British Steam Frigate, circa 1850
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a British Steam Frigate, circa 1850, a hand crafted sailor's woolwork picture with larboard side view of a British Naval Auxiliary Steam Frigate unde...
Category
1850s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Vintage Pond Yacht
Located in Norwell, MA
Wooden pond yacht with natural finish and painted white above the waterline. Linen sails, blue deck.
70" long x 11 1/2" wide x 78" ...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art British Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass, Lead
$7,554
19th Century Sailor
s Woolie of the Four Masted Bark Loch Torridon
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Woolie of the Four Masted Bark Loch Torridon, circa 1880, a sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture with a starboard side view of the Four Masted Bark Rigged Cli...
Category
1880s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool, Silk
British Sailor
s Woolwork of a Royal Navy White Fleet Frigate
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy White Fleet Frigate
The sailor's woolwork depicts a portside view of a square-rigged three masted ship flying the White Ensign. The blue s...
Category
1870s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Sailor
s Woolwork of Royal Navy Five-Masted Ship under Steam, Minotaur Class
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Five-masted Ship under Steam,
HMS Minotaur or HMS Agincourt,
Minotaur Class Broadside Ironclad,
circa 1880
The sailor's woolie depicts a portsi...
Category
Late 19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
English Sailor
s Woolwork of a Battleship with White Ensign
Located in Downingtown, PA
English Sailor's Woolwork of a Battleship,
Circa 1865-75.
The sailor's woolie depicts a starboard side view of a second rate battleship flying the White ensign under sail. White se...
Category
Mid-19th Century Early Victorian Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
19th Century Sailor
s Woolie of a Steam Frigate Under Good Head of Steam
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a Steam Frigate Under Good Head of Steam, circa 1870s, a British sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture of an Auxiliary Steam Ship or "Steam Frigate,"...
Category
1870s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
19th Century Sailor
s Woolie of a British Frigate Within Floral Reserve
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a British Frigate Within Floral Reserve, circa 1840, a British Sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture with a larboard side view of a ship-rigged friga...
Category
1840s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool, Silk
British Sailor
s Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship,
The sailor's woolwork or woolie depicts a starboard view of a Second-Rate Royal Navy Ship with three masts. T...
Category
1870s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Sailor
s Woolwork of HMS Reindeer Made by Henry Payn Hopper
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Woolwork of HMS Reindeer of a Large Size,
Made by Henry Payn Hopper,
Circa 1865-70
The large woolie depicts a starboard side view of the HMS Reindeer under steam and sail. ...
Category
1860s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Six Foot Carved Fish From England
Located in Norwell, MA
Six foot hand carved fish from England. Most recently from a local seafood restaurant. Nicely painted and carved showing fins, gills, mouth, eyes, etc...
Category
1990s British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wood
A Large Gothic Revival Carved Oak Barometer with a Rare Snail Tail Thermometer
By Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
A large Gothic Revival oak barometer with blind trefoil carved pediment, a rare snail tail mercury thermometer flanked by turned and incised uprights with sunflower carvings. A small...
Category
1880s Gothic Revival Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Oak
British Sailor
s Large Woolwork of HMS Brunswick
Located in Downingtown, PA
An Icon of Steam and Sail: Sailor J.H. Miller's Woolwork of HMS Brunswick
Circa 1860
This monumental and intricately crafted woolwork, a testament to the folk art tradition of 19th-...
Category
Mid-19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
British Sailor
s Woolwork of a Royal Navy Ship with Red Ensign
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy Ship
circa 1765
The sailor's woolwork, also known as a woolie, depicts a port side view of a ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Early 20th Century Folk Art Boat Model Collection
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Folk Art Boat Model Collection
Every now and again something truly amazing comes along, this is true in this amazing collection of...
Category
1920s Folk Art Vintage British Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass, Copper
Antique Iron Whale Flensing Knife
Located in Montreal, QC
From the days of Moby Dick, this heavy tool was used to remove blubber from a whale carcass. The triangular blade is cast at one end of a long cylindrical handle, the other end is wr...
Category
1850s Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Iron
Pair of Exceptional Yacht Cabin Lanterns by Davey
Co.
By Davey
Co.
Located in Norwell, MA
Pair of top quality Davey & Co. ships lanterns. With arched and vented tops, carry handles, beveled glass, hinged doors, burners, etc. Fitted with makers badges reading "Davey & Comp...
Category
Early 1900s Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass
Carved 19th Century English Ship
s Figurehead of a Classical Male
Located in Essex, MA
Life-size draped classical male ship's figurehead of English 19th century origin. The carving is quite similar to that of the figurehead rescued from the HMS...
Category
19th Century Georgian Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Oak
20th Century Diorama Folk Art Three Mast Model Ship in a Bottle English, C 1930
Located in Central England, GB
A fine Diorama Folk Art Model ship in a bottle
This skilfully made diorama of a three-mast early 19th century sailing ship at harbour with a raised landscape behind and cottages set...
Category
20th Century Folk Art British Nautical Objects
Materials
Glass
A rare 19th century folk art diorama of two sailing vessels racing at sea.
Located in Central England, GB
This most attractive mid 19th century folk art cased diorama shows a view at sea with a large three mast English ship being chased in a racing situation by a smaller and faster single mast yacht. Both are passing by a lighthouse which is in the foreground.
This diorama has been beautifully handmade. The vessel, sails and lighthouse are all hand carved in wood and very nicely painted in bright colours as is the setting of the choppy sea which has most likely been formed in papier mâché.
The most appealing element of this piece is its small compact size which easily lends itself for display on a shelf, table or perhaps wall mounted.
The case is made from nailed pine boards which have been papered and painted black and finished with a glazed front set into putty.
The glass is original and period with lovely handmade imperfections.
This decorative diorama is in excellent original condition.
English, circa 1860
Height 16cm x width 52.5cm x depth 8.5cm max.
Thank you for looking at this rare and interesting 19th century diorama...
Category
Mid-19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Other
Large Mahogany Antique Boat Model
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Inspired model of a boat or skiff expertly crafted in mahogany, probably by a boat builder, having a graceful form and has acquired a well earned patina only time can give.
Category
19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Heavy Pair of Highly Polished Library Binoculars
Located in Norwell, MA
Exceptional pair of polished and lacquered English Marine binoculars. Rare amber filtered lenses. Geared focal knob. Clear crisp optics. Circa 1930.
Category
1930s Vintage British Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass
Nautical Vernier Sextant, G.W.Butters, London
Located in Norwich, GB
Vernier Nautical Sextant, G.W. Butters, London.
A fine curved frame vernier sextant, the polished silver arc signed G.W. Butters, London.
Eng...
Category
Early 1900s Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass
English Shipwright
s or Carpenter
s Sash Fillister Plane by Atkin and Sons
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English shipwright's or carpenter's sash fillister or plough plane, c.1900, of finely patinated beech wood and brass by Atkin and Sons, Sheffield Works, Birmingham
Marked A &...
Category
Early 1900s Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Metal, Brass
Carved Haddock Trade Sign
Located in Norwell, MA
Six foot carved wood fish reminiscent of a nineteenth century trade sign. With carved gills, fins, scales, eyes and mouth. Fitted with iron hanging bo...
Category
2010s British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wood
Vintage Thomas Walker
Sons Nautical Trade Sign with Ship Log Instrument
By Thomas Walker
Son Ltd. 1
Located in Morristown, NJ
A vintage trade sign from the esteemed Thomas Walker & Sons Ltd, renowned makers of ship’s logs and chronometers in Southampton, UK. The sign is be...
Category
1950s Folk Art Vintage British Nautical Objects
Materials
Metal
Copper Ships Masthead Lantern On Base
Located in Norwell, MA
High quality solid copper and brass trimmed masthead lantern. With maker's badge from Tung Woo Masthead and Serial No. M123. Thick Fresnel lens, hinged top ve...
Category
1920s Vintage British Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass, Copper
Early 20Th Century English Maritime Sailors Gambling Game Box ‘Crown
Anchor
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A early 20th century sailors ditty box, with painted ‘Crown & Anchor’ lid and original dice.
C & A was a gambling game, its origins can be traced back to the beginning of the 18th c...
Category
Early 20th Century British Nautical Objects
Materials
Pine
Large Copper and Brass Ship
s Port Lantern Light by Meteorite Birmingham England
By Meteorite
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Large early 20th Century Antique British solid copper and brass nautical Port signal lantern/lamp with Fresnel lens. With maker's badge from English fir...
Category
Early 20th Century British Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass, Copper
End 19th century Large Nautical Mahogany Rudder with Eight Spokes Bronze Hub UK
Located in Milan, IT
Large mahogany rudder with eight spokes with bronze hub. English manufacture of the end of the 19th century. Diameter 130 cm - inches 51.2, depth 15 cm - inches 5.9.
There are evidences showing that already in the third millennium BC, in ancient Egypt, people used wooden oars...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wood
Massive Merchant Schooner Model
Located in Greenwich, CT
Impressive and rare example of a model English merchant sailing vessel, circa 1860, that plied the China Trade from England to Hong Kong. The ship has the sail rig of the Sandy Hook pilot boats...
Category
1860s Sporting Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Linen, Wood
Scale Nautical Vintage Model of an English Motorboat, 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Scale model of an English motorboat (antique motor yacht) from the 1950s, wooden planking hull. Measures: Length 57 cm, 23.44 inches, width 13.5 cm, 5.3 ...
Category
1950s Vintage British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wood
19th Century Unique Folk Art Guernsey Shell Diorama Display
Located in London, GB
19th century unique Folk Art Guernsey shell diorama display
We are proud to offer a unique folk-art hand-crafted example of a seashell diorama. Display...
Category
1880s Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Natural Fiber
British Sailor
s Woolwork or Woolie of the Named Ship "Polly"
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of the Barque Polly,
Named "Polly",
Circa 1885-95
Offered is a magnificent and historically significant British sailor's woolwork, or "woolie," dating to the last quarter of the 19th century. This exceptional piece presents a detailed port-side view of the three-masted barque Polly under full sail. The vessel's name is proudly displayed on a banner flown from the mainmast and is also visible on her bow, a testament to the sailor-artist's pride in his vessel.
The artistry of this woolwork is particularly noteworthy. The sails are skillfully executed using the trapunto technique, a form of relief quilting where sections are padded from behind to create a dynamic, three-dimensional effect. This application masterfully conveys the impression of sails swollen with wind, bringing the scene to life. The sea is depicted in a series of rippling bands of green and white wool, a characteristic convention of this folk art form that effectively captures the motion of the water.
This historically rich textile is presented in a handsome maple ogee-shaped frame, typical of the period and befitting the quality of the artwork. The piece is glazed with Museum UV glass, a modern conservation measure that significantly reduces light reflection and provides superior protection against fading and light damage.
Historical Provenance: The Barque Polly
The woolwork is a tribute to a specific and well-documented vessel. The barque Polly was built in the renowned shipyards of Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1885. The ship was christened at its launch by Marian "Polly" Woodside, the wife of the vessel's owner. In a charming departure from the traditional champagne, Mrs. Woodside tossed a cascade of flowers across the bow to christen the ship.
The Polly embarked on numerous voyages, primarily serving the trade routes between South America and the United Kingdom, before being repositioned for service in the Pacific. As a barque, the Polly featured three masts, with the fore and mainmasts being square-rigged and the mizzenmast being fore-and-aft rigged. This configuration was highly popular for long-distance merchant vessels as it required a smaller crew than a fully-rigged ship, making it an economical choice for ocean crossings.
A label affixed to the reverse of the frame indicates that this woolwork was featured on the acclaimed television program The Antiques Road...
Category
Late 19th Century Folk Art Antique British Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Early 20th Century English folk art scratch-built ship model of S.V Liverpool
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century English folk art scratch-built ship model of S.V Liverpool
One of the best examples we have uncovered, an early 20th Century example of an English folk art scrat...
Category
1920s Folk Art Vintage British Nautical Objects
Materials
Metal
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