A Victorian wool picture of a three masted frigate flying several flags and ensi

An American reverse-glass painting of the ship ‘Hurricane’ of Boston, of rectangular form showing a three masted sailing ship flying the Stars and Stripes and signalling flags from h...

This scale model of a Hastings lugger is very similar to the one described in E.W. White’s book as typical of this type of fishing vessel. She has an extremely wide beam, centreboard...

Thomas Luny (British, 1759-1837) HMS Bellerophon leaving Torbay with the defeated Emperor Napoleon aboard, 26th July 1815, this oil on panel shows the crew manning the yards to bring in the sails, having just dropped anchor in Torbay, with another battleship anchored astern and a further ship under sail in the distance, the foreground with working boats approaching, signed and dated ‘Luny 1827’(lower left). In the original gilt-wood frame. Provenance: Private collection, UK. Footnote: Despite a service career as illustrious as any fighting ship...

A carved and painted model of HMS Emerald, 1811, the frigate finely modelled and painted with a white hull, black plimsole line, yellow topsides and red cannon ports, raised on the original mahogany stand with turned feet and a plaque reading ‘HMSEmerald, 36 Gun Frigate. Launched on the Thames in 1795. A scale model ½”-1’ made for Captain F. L .Maitland, her Commander 1806-1911 together with a painting of H.M.S. Emerald by Nicholas Pocock...

Victorian English Country Victorian maple framed embroidery of the clipper ship Arthusa with memorial photographs.  

Seafaring Artistry: A British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy Ship, Circa 1865–75 This remarkable British sailor's woolwork, or "wool...

British Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship in Bay, Circa 1860-75 This meticulously crafted sailor's woolwork, often called a "woolie," is rendered in Berlin wool and portrays a Ro...

Iron and Thread: A Sailor's Vision of the Ram-Bow Era This striking 19th-century sailor’s woolwork, or "woolie," captures the essence of a rapidly modernizing Royal Navy, depicting a warship whose very design speaks to an era of dramatic technological change. Crafted with painstaking detail from colored yarns, this textile artwork is a superb example of the folk art traditionally made by British sailors during their long hours at sea , between journeys or in retirement. Dimensions: 19 inches high x 18 1/8 inches wide x 2 inches deep. Historical Context: The Dawn of the Ironclads The vessel illustrated is a powerful, sail-assisted steam warship, but what makes her distinctive is the pronounced, jutting ram-bow visible at her waterline. This feature was a direct consequence of the rise of ironclad warships in the mid-19th century, following the tactical use of ramming during the American Civil War and the Austro-Italian War. The ram-bow was incorporated into new British warship designs from the 1860s onward, turning the bow itself into a formidable weapon. Dating to circa 1880, this woolie belongs to a period when the Royal Navy was building large, powerful capital ships—the very ships that carried the ram. The ship is accurately shown flying the White Ensign, the distinguishing flag of a commissioned Royal Navy warship, and a long white masthead pennant, confirming her status as a vessel in active commission. The simple, bold execution of the ship, set against a classic background of sea and segmented land, creates a work of remarkable visual strength. A Unique Square Presentation The woolwork is notable for its unusual and attractive near-square format, offering a distinct aesthetic among nautical woolies...