Earle D. Vandekar of Knightsbridge, Inc. Folk Art

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 ...

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...

British Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship Anchored in Bay, Circa 1860-75 This charming sailor's woolwork, commonly referred to as a "woolie," presents a Royal Navy frigate at anc...

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...

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...

English Pottery Pearlware Sailor Figures, Circa 1820. A lovely pair of English pottery pearlware figure groups each depicting a sailor resting on his sea trunk...

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 ...

American Folk Art metal basket of beaded fruit, Basket early 20th Century, fruit 1940s-60s. The dramatic early 20th Century metal openwork basket cont...

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...

British Sailor's Woolwork of Second Rate Royal Navy Ship with Flag Surround, Circa 1875 The sailor's woolwork or woolie depicts a starboard Second Rate Royal Navy ship under full sa...

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...

American Painted Cast Iron "Old Salt" Maine Fisherman Doorstop or Bookend, Hubley Manufacturing Company, The 1920s. The two larger figures depict an old salt fisherman standing ...

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...

Rare 18th century Whieldon-type creamware pottery cow, circa 1765. The rare press-moulded cow stands on a flat slab base with lobed edges. The cow is s...

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...

British Sailor's Woolwork of HMS Victor Emanuel with Red and White Ensign Border, Named after Victor Emanuel, King of Sardinia (also known as Piedmont-Sardinia) and future King of It...

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. ...

British Sailor's Woolwork of Merchant Ship Under Full Sail, Circa 1875 The British sailor's woolie depicts a port side view of a large three-masted ship flying the Red Ensign on a f...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

British Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship with Sunset, Circa 1875 This is a lovely example of a sailor's woolie with wonderful color and subject. The sailor's woolwork or sailor...

British Sailor's large woolwork of HMS Brunswick, Made by J. H. Miller, Brixton, Circa 1865 The large-scale sailor's woolwork depicts an image of a Royal Navy Second Rate Battleship...

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...

English Mocha Pottery Pearlware Earthworm Jug, Circa 1800-20 The pearlware mocha jug has three bands of blue slip and four of a white ground with two red-brown lines. The blue slip...

Best example I've ever had. Folk Art Sussex pottery pig jug and cup, from the Belle-Vue Pottery, Rye, UK, circa 1870. This Sussex pig from the Bell...

English pottery hearty good fellow pearlware toby jug circa 1800    An unusual variation on the hearty good fellow standing toby jug, The base in white with the Toby figure standing, supporting a large white jug under his right arm, and holding a pipe with his left hand across his chest with his head turned slightly to the left. He has a bright blue jacket and yellow pantaloons with an orange waistcoat. He has a brown tricorn hat...

British Sailor's large woolwork of a royal navy ship under full sail, circa 1875 The sailor's woolie or woolwork depicts a starboard ...

British pottery pearlware sponged spirit flasks modeled in form of boots, Scottish, circa 1840-1850. Great fun & so decorative! The pair of unusual flasks are sponged in mottled ...

British pottery pearlware sponged spirit flasks modeled in form of boots, Scottish, circa 1840-1850. Wonderfully folky pair of unusual flasks sponged in mottled colors of blue, pin...

American portrait miniature by Thomas Story Officer, Woman in a White Gown, Signed "T.S. Officer, Pinxt", The 1830s The American portrait miniature signed by Thomas Story Officer depicts a beautiful young woman, her red hair “Coeffure a la Chinoise”, sitting in a red chair confidently looking out towards the painter and us, the viewers.  She wears a white dress with a pin in the center of her chest.  Based on her style of dress and her hair, we believe this was painted while Officer was in Philadelphia. It is signed to the lower right "T.S. Officer, Pinxt" along at edge. The reverse has a small oval glass Dimensions: 3 inches high x 2 3/16 inches wide x 1/4 inch deep Reference: Thomas S. Officer: Miniature and Portrait Painter, Gardner Library,  Author: Merri Lou Schaumann. Born in Carlisle in 1810, this gifted artist trained in Philadelphia, traveled extensively and won awards for his paintings. In 1872, James Miller McKim wrote a series of reminiscences for the Carlisle Herald newspaper about the places and people of Carlisle in an earlier day. He wrote that “David Smith, a boot and shoemaker, had two sons… one of whom early developed a taste for art and finally devoted himself to miniature painting as a profession. He was a contemporary, and for a while, a rival of Mr. Thomas Officer, though I believe he never reached the celebrity attained by that gifted young artist. Mr. Officer, by the way, was one of the last miniature painters of any eminence produced by this country, the daguerreotype and photographer having come in to sweep away the entire profession.” Thomas Story Officer was born in Carlisle on August 15, 1810, to cabinetmaker John Officer and his second wife Margaret. He trained in Philadelphia with the well-known portrait painter Thomas Sully and began his career there in the 1830s. Officer left Philadelphia occasionally to paint portraits in Mobile, Alabama in 1837, in Richmond, Virginia in 1845, and in New York City from 1846-1849 where he became a member of the National Academy of Design. In 1842, Officer intended to travel to Mexico and needed a passport. He asked Attorney Charles B. Penrose, formerly of Carlisle, to write a letter of recommendation for him. In his letter to Fletcher Webster, Esq., Penrose wrote, “This will be handed to you by Thomas S. Officer, Esq., a friend of mine, and a native artist of Pennsylvania, who is a gentleman of great talents and respectability. Intending to visit Mexico, he wishes to procure passports at the State Department…”  Officer was issued a passport in July 1842. He was described as 30 years old, 5’ 11” with a “full and round forehead, bluish-gray eyes, an ordinary nose, medium mouth, ordinary chin, sallow complexion with an oval face and brown hair.” Officer went to Mexico and later to Australia. In 1854, he opened a studio in Sandridge, Australia, and while there he “entered several oil portraits in the 1854 Melbourne Exhibition preparatory to sending them to the 1855 Paris Exhibition.” Officer left Australia, and in 1855 he settled in San Francisco where he would spend the last years of his life. He set up a portrait painting department in James Johnson’s photographic gallery in San Francisco. In 1857, Officer received a bronze medal for his oil portraits exhibited at The First Industrial Exhibition of the Mechanics’ Institute of San Francisco, as well as awards at several other exhibits in 1858. A short piece in the San Francisco newspaper, Alta, on October 30, 1859, read, “Mr. Thomas S. Officer, the talented portrait painter, lies near to death’s door and is in pecuniary distress. Out of the many to whose pleasure he has contributed by his gay, social manners, as well as by his pleasing artistic productions, may there not be found someone who will extend a helping hand?”  Officer died on December 8, 1859. Almost an entire column in the January 18, 1860 edition of the Carlisle Herald, was devoted to a very long and informative obituary of Officer taken from the Alta, California newspaper. Officer was buried in the now defunct Lone Mountain Cemetery in San Francisco. In 2014, the Cumberland County Historical Society received a bequest of a portrait painted by Thomas Officer from the estate of historian John J. Snyder, Jr. It joined a miniature portrait already a part of the Society’s museum collection in Carlisle, not far from where Officer was born. Notes: The May 28, 1834 edition of the Carlisle Weekly Herald reported that Thomas S. Officer had "...within the last few weeks, taken the portraits of several gentlemen of this borough...Mr. O. is principally self-taught, and although young, already evinced a degree of taste, judgment, and talent..." A short biography of Officer can also be found in Early American Portrait Painters in Miniature by Theodore Bolton, published by F. F. Sherman (New York, 1921). The entire book is one line  Bio. of Officer on page 117. See Officer’s portrait...