1890s Nautical Objects

A carved and painted Tagua nut also known as vegetable ivory, the cargo of the Peruvian when it ran aground on the 8th of February 1899 during a vicious storm. Probably created by H...

A French Hand Painted International Code of Semaphore Signals This wonderful piece shows the signal flags for the alphabet and numbers Beautifully done with a few seagulls and se...

Magnetic nautical compass, signed Henry Browne & Son Ltd Barking & London Trade Sestrel Mark, Barking & London, second half of the 19th century . Contained in its originale wooden box. Very good condition. Diameter compass inche 5.35, Measure box inches 7.8x 7.5 h 6.4. The compass consists of a cylindrical brass container, called mortar, on whose bottom it is fixed a stem of hard metal, called sensitive element, on which the appropriately fixed compass card is placed, so that the zero coincides with the magnetic polarity. To reduce friction to a minimum, the mortar was filled with liquid with a low freezing point, which also had the purpose of rapidly damping any oscillations of the compass and closed at the top by a sturdy protective glass. Shipping is insured by Lloyd's London; our gift box is free (look at the last picture). Sestrel is a trade mark of Henry Browne & son, an important English firm maker quality compasses, inclinometers, sextants, etc. established in the second half of XIX century. The brand ‘Sestrel’ was an amalgam of the qualities their instruments embody is in fact a name synonymous with quality and accuracy; this is evidenced by the sheer number of vintage and antique instruments still in use today. The first hints in Europe on the use of instruments using magnetic fields for orientation are dated back to the late twelfth century, especially thanks to the knowledge brought by merchants and sailors after contacts with the Arabs: we find hints in the work by Alexander Neckam "De nominibus utensilium" and in the works by Guyot de Provins, where the magnet is called "sailor's friend". Even the inventory of a Sicilian ship of 1200's, the San Nicolò, refers to the presence on board of a magnet and a "bussola di ligno", that is a wooden compass...

American Rotary nautical foghorn with a decorative painted rope pine case, exposed corner dovetailing, original leather strap, brass side crank, and original brass trumped horn. Fog horn...

Brass sextant signed Georg Hechelmann Nachf Hamburg from the late 19th century, original wooden box with locking hooks, handles, brass hinges and key set. Flap and vernier in silver, wooden handle, 3 colored glasses for the fixed mirror and 4 for the mobile one, three telescopes, a microscope for reading the vernier, graduated from 0 to 145 °, index and horizon mirror. Conservation status: very good, complete with base for support made of wood and custom-made brass. Box size 30 x 30 H 14 cm - inche 11.7 x 11.75 x 5.5. It is available our free gift box (look at the last picture). The sextant is an ancient astronomical instrument used...

Antique British Sailor's Woolie, circa 1890, a large hand crafted folk art woolwork featuring a large British Frigate under full sail with over-sized British ensign flying on the spa...

Scarce antique flag with the Commodore Perry motto from the War of 1812. A fine woolen bunting flag with machine stitched border (dating it to after 1841) and with hand cut and cross-stitched letters (in comparison stars were usually done this way until the 1880s, and rarely after the 1890s). The header has brass grommets which became standard by 1890 (until restricted during World War II). Despite having apparently only enjoyed light use, the fabric has warped a bit from age. Overall this flag clearly dates from before WW II, and all physical evidence strongly indicates an origin from circa the 1890s. "Dont Give Up The Ship" was the battle cry from the Battle of Lake Erie, echoing the dying words of Captain James Lawrence when the USS CHESAPEAKE was lost to HMS SHANNON off Boston on 1 June 1813. His friend Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry...

Antique red cat sailor's Valentine, Probably American, Circa 1880-1920 The remarkable sailor's valentine is of square form with a dense pattern of sea she...

Original 1898 ocean chart by George W. Eldridge showing the Maine coast from Penobscot Bay to Machias. Great nineteenth century chart showing countless h...

Antique late nineteenth century yacht wheel with heavy brass hub and brass trim rings. Rich hardwood with varnish finish. Quality relic. Circa 1895. Six ca...

19th century sailor's Folk Art Woolie with Photograph of a Young Queen Victoria, circa 1896, hand crafted wool yarn picture with silver thread highligh...

Pair of highly polished and lacquered French made yachting binoculars with engraved eyepieces "Lemaire Fab, Paris". With center focal knob. Sliding sunshades. Meticulous restoration ...