1850s Nautical Objects

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...

Transporting 19th century English sailors valentine hand crafted in exotic organic seashells ambitiously arranged around a clipper ship image under a convex lens.

Sailor's Keepsake: Edwardian Shellwork Valentine Diorama 🐚 ________________________________________ This is a charming and historically evocative Edwardian Shellwork Diorama, a clas...

A vintage trade sign from the esteemed Thomas Walker & Sons Ltd, renowned makers of ship’s logs and chronometers in Southampton, UK. The sign is be...

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

19th Century Folk Art Encased Ship Diorama A delightful and highly decorated example of a late 19th century English folk art ships model diorama...

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...

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...

Fantastic antique Tiffany & Company of New York brass aneroid barometer/thermometer dating from the early 1900's. The barometer and thermometer works as it should. Marked "Tiffany & ...

English Country style Victorian diorama in oak case of sail/steam ship with small lighthouse.  

Traditionally associated with Barbados in the West Indies, this late 19th-century Sailor’s Valentine is a finely preserved example of shellwork folk art. Composed of hundreds of natu...

Charming 19th Century English heart form sailors valentine ambitiously handcrafted with exotic seashells around a sailboat image as seen through a glass lens.