Earle D. Vandekar of Knightsbridge, Inc.

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...

First Period Worcester Porcelain Polychrome Tiered Sweetmeat Stand with Sea Shells, Circa 1768-70 This exceptional and rare First Period Worcester por...

Chinese Export Porcelain American Market Ship Spoon Tray, Circa 1785-90 The Chinese Export porcelain spoon tray is painted in famille rose with an American three-masted ship under f...

Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Teapot Stand, European Man and Dog, Circa 1740-50 The charming shaped porcelain stand depicts an European subject scene of a figure of a Europe...

English Plain Creamware Soup Plates- a Set of Six, Circa1780-90 The plain creamware soup plates have a deep central bowl and a molded rim with a bar and circle design. Dimensions: ...

Edwardian Shellwork Valentine Diorama, Dover with Pier, 1900 A large Edwardian shellwork diorama with bevelled glass and in the form of an anchor. The diorama features an early tint...

Edwardian Shellwork Valentine Diorama, Circa 1900. A large circular Edwardian star-shape shellwork diorama with beveled glass, features a chromolithograph of a sailing ship passing ...

Chinese export Blue Fitzhugh very large porcelain blue Fitzhugh oval platter and Mazarin, Late 18th-early 19th century. The remarkably large serving di...

Wirth Collage Painting, Robert J. Wirth, Titled "Landscape", Dated December14 1985/ December 30, 1985 on reverse, Signed Writh on lower right and reverse The collage on board in acr...

Anton Michelsen Gilded Sterling Silver Gilt Christmas Spoon, The Painter Gudmund Olsen is the Designer, 1976 The 1976 Anton Michelsen Christmas Spoon is gilded sterling silver with ...

Anton Michelsen Gilded Gilt Sterling Silver Gilt Christmas Spoon, Carl-Henning Pedersen is the Designer, 1974. The Danish Gilt metal Sterling silver gilt spoon from Anton Michelsen ...

Anton Michelsen Gilded Sterling Silver Gilt Christmas Spoon, Artist Poul Hanmann Designer, 1977 The 1977 Anton Michelsen Christmas Spoon is gilded sterling silver with an enamel handle. It was designed the artist Poul Hanmann. The shaped handle depicts a red enamel rose growing up in the blue sky from a snow covered ground. The artist chose this design as a familiar Christmas design in Denmark. Dimensions: 6 1/2 inches long x 1 1/2 inches wide x 3/4 inches high. Poul Frederik Hanmann was a Danish painter born on September 20, 1915, in Copenhagen. He studied at P. Rostrup Bøyesen's painting school from 1945 to 1950, which greatly influenced his artistic style. Hanmann was known for his figure paintings, particularly of female nude models, which he depicted with a balanced and simplified composition. Over time, his work became more abstract, with fewer details, creating an ethereal quality in his paintings. He was part of a group of 1950s painters, including Jeppe Vontilius and Johannes Hofmeister...