Scrimshaw of whale tooth with whaler named Fox and engraved Greek vase 1850s

19th century whaler made carved and turned ebony stemmed cup. "Manila P.I." painted on one side. Manila, Philippine Islands would have been a port of call on ...

Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved: Scrimshaw in the New Bedford Whaling Museum by Stuart M Frank. Stated 1stEd hardcover with dust jacket. By the mi...

Vintage Scale Model of a Fully Fitted Whale Boat, circa 1950s, a hand crafted wooden model of a carvel hulled whale boat having a smooth strake edge to edge construction, fully fitte...

19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie with Triple Decker Ship of the Line and Sloop, ca 1850, depicting a starboard side view of a majestic square-rigged...

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...

19th Century Presentation Half Hull Model of a Whale Ship, circa 1850, a large plank on frame model of a bluff-bowed and wide abeam whale ship. The model wa...

American oval hand carved timber trade sign with a centered two masted ship, rope border, upper painted banner "The London and New York Trading Company"...

Very early 18th century Dutch woodblock engraving of the Northern Whale Fishery, circa 1720, a hand colored engraving illustrating the Dutch whaling flee...

"Homecoming": British Sailor's Woolwork of the Screw Frigate H.M.S. Fox, Circa 1875 A charming and detailed British sailor's woolwork (or "woolie"), depicting a portside view of the...

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...