Wool Nautical Objects

British Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship off Land, Signed & Dated WR 1865. Crafted with meticulous detail, this charming miniature woolwork depicts a Royal Navy ship sailing nea...

Large and Historically Significant Sailor's Woolwork of HMS Atalanta, British, Circa 1880. This large and impressive sailor's woolwork, or "woolie," is a richly colored and wonderf...

British Sailor's Woolwork of Second Rate Royal Navy Ship, Circa 1760-65 The sailor's woolie depicts a port side view of a Second-Rate Royal Navy ship under full sail on a blue sea w...

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...

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...

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

Presented is a large 48-star American Naval Jack. This impressive wool flag features a rich navy flag with a field of 48 white stars. The stars are arranged in six rows of eight star...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie with Ship at Anchor Within Oval Cartouche, ca 1850, depicting a square-rigged single decker warship under furled sails, anchor chain leading off...

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...

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a British Frigate Within Floral Reserve, circa 1840, a British Sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture with a larboard side view of a ship-rigged friga...

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...

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a British Steam Frigate, circa 1850, a hand crafted sailor's woolwork picture with larboard side view of a British Naval Auxiliary Steam Frigate unde...

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 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 Ships in a Bay, Circa 1860-75 This charming sailor's woolwork, commonly referred to as a "woolie," presents a Royal Navy frigate at anchor in...

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of Flag-Bedecked Triple Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1850, a British sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture with a larboard side view of a triple decke...

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...

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of the Four Masted Bark Loch Torridon, circa 1880, a sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture with a starboard side view of the Four Masted Bark Rigged Cli...

Early to Mid 19th Century Sailor's Woolie of the Merchant Ship JANE Under Full Sail, circa 1840s, a hand-crafted sailor's woolwork picture depicting a larboard side view of fully rig...

An Icon of Steam and Sail: Sailor J.H. Miller's Woolwork of HMS Brunswick Circa 1860 This monumental and intricately crafted woolwork, a testament to the folk art tradition of 19th-...

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a Steam Frigate Under Good Head of Steam, circa 1870s, a British sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture of an Auxiliary Steam Ship or "Steam Frigate,"...

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 ...

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...

Antique Sailor's Folk Art Woolie of a Single Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1850, a sailor's folk art woolwork picture handcrafted of woolen yarn in a bold variety of stitches, depic...

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 ...

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. ...

Late 19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a Four Masted Barque, circa 1880, a handcrafted sailor's woolwork picture depicting a starboard side view of a four master with square rigged for...

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...

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...

19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie with a Double Decker Ship of the Line, ca 1850, depicting a larboard side view of a square-rigged double decker warship under standing rigging, ...

Very unusual 19th century matched pair of sailor's Yachting Woolies, circa 1870, a true pair of woolworks featuring mirror images of the same Yawl rigged yacht, and period photograph...

Antique Sailor's Woolie of the American Protected Cruiser "USS Chicago", circa 1885, a sailor's hand crafted folk art woolwork picture of a bark-rigged auxiliary steam sailor with in...