Ship's Bow Figurehead, Antique Hand Carved Wood, circa 1930s

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Ship's Bow Figurehead, Antique Hand Carved Wood, circa 1930s

About the Item

This is a beautifully crafted large antique ship figurehead, hand carved and hand painted from the 1930s. Carved in the shape of a male ship captain, the figurehead wears a blue and gold jacket, a captain’s hat, and holds a gold telescope in his hands. Figureheads are carved wooden sculptures that decorate the prows of sailing ships. Ancient Greek ships had eyes painted on either side of the bow, and the Romans copied this tradition, and added decorative carvings. Traditionally believed to placate the gods of the sea and ensure a safe voyage, almost every ancient prow had a carved figure looking down at the waves, and the variety was immense. Styled as human figures, animals, mythical creatures and gods, ship figureheads were elaborately carved. The general practice of using a figurehead arrived with the development of the ocean faring galleons of the 1500s. Ship figureheads were often used to indicate the name of a ship in a much less literate society. They also could serve to display the wealth and social status of the ship’s owner or the nautical strength and supremacy of the country, in the case of military vessels. Lavish figures were commissioned, executed by Fine craftsmen, hand painted and covered in real gold gilt. Figureheads also served as a kind of good luck talisman for the ship’s crew. In Germany, Belgium, and Holland, it was believed that the ship’s figureheads contained spirits. These spirits protected the ship and crew from fierce storms, treacherous winds, uncharted waters, illness or disease. In the event of the ship sinking, the spirits would guide the sailors’ souls to the afterlife. If sailors lost their lives at sea without such protection, it was believed their souls would haunt the sea for all eternity. The first steamships sometimes had decorations on their bows, but figureheads mostly died out with the demise of the sailing ship. The Royal Navy ship HMS Rodney, launched in 1884, was the last British battleship to have a figurehead, although some smaller British vessels continued to use them until the early years of the twentieth century. Today antique figureheads serve as an evocative and decorative reminder of the bygone days of sailing ships. Condition: This figurehead is in impeccable condition. The paint and original gilt is still very much in tact. It would make an impressive addition to any naval collection, or serves as a one-of-kind statement piece to adorn your walls.

Dimensions:
Height: 56 in (142.24 cm)Width: 17 in (43.18 cm)Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Wood,Carved
Period:
1930-1939
Date of Manufacture:
1930
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Colorado Springs, CO
Reference Number:
Seller: OT1801stDibs: LU909713957932