18th Century and Earlier Nautical Objects

A charming late 18th century pen and ink wash sketch on paper of a pilot fish, housed in a period glazed and hardwood veneered frame . Beau...

A late 18th/early 19th century gouache on paper landscape, an unusual composition with passing ships two large naval, small rowing and sail boats centred by a large country estate. It has the feel of being American in origins, but we could be wrong. Some creasing lines are apparent, but apart fro that is good untouched condition, housed in a period maple and gilt slip frame and glazed. Provence By descent from Douglas Shepherd (1922-1989), a designer and architect working on public houses for the brewery firm Ind Coope. He was heavily influenced by and was a serious collector of Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau, including leading designers and artists such as Charles Ashlee and Jessie M King...

British Sailor's woolwork of a fully dressed ship with town behind, Circa 1865-75 The large well-crafted sailor's woolie depicts a Second Rate Royal Navy Ship off-shore with land...

A late 18th Century half length portrait of a gentleman officer, unframed oil on board. The painting is in good original condition, with some later added varnish. The varnish has ...

Print by engraving on copper plate from the Panckoucke encyclopédie méthodique, end of the 18th century, volume Marine Planches (more than 1,500 figures dealing with all subjects on the marina: planes, construction, carpentry, tree trunks, armaments of maneuvers, ropes, sails, artillery, ship maneuvers and combat tactics). This is the plate n. 146, pag. 163 fig. 1161-1172; with frame cm 51.2 x 40.8. Some sails are depicted. The Print has the "Benard direxit...

18th or 19th century French ship chandler's trade sign, circa 1800, an oval pine double sided sign built with large dove-tails, advertising Cooperage and...

Woodcut engraving of fishes, from Maria Johnston Merian’s Historia Naturalis de Piscibus et Ceti (1657), later printing in 1767, a seminal work by one of the first woman naturalists ...

Woodcut engraving of fishes, from Maria Johnston Merian’s Historia Naturalis de Piscibus et Ceti (1657), later printing in 1767, a seminal work by one of the first woman naturalists ...

18th century George III silk embroidered nautical scene, circa 1780, a refined picture made by hand-embroidered silk on silk, with hand painted details, depicting a version of the Classic "Sailor's Farewell" with a Patrician young lady standing on shore leaning against a fouled anchor, with a ship sailing away in the background with presumably her beau. The quality of the embroidery is exquisite as is typical with these early silks, and the painted details include very delicately done facial features, hair, arms and feet. The image is in an oval cartouche bordered by silk thread bound to resemble a braid of the lass' hair, and is placed above the embroidered legend "HOPE." These silk embroideries are thought to be the work of young ladies, no doubt from the upper classes to be able to afford such a dear material (as opposed to the thread and linen used by the middle class gals in their much more common finishing school Samplers. Georgian embroideries most often depicted stylized mourning or genre scenes; nautical pictures are really quite scarce. This is a lovely companion piece to another Georgian nautical silk embroidery we have listed. Silk is extremely fragile and does not age well over the centuries, so this piece is actually in extremely good condition. There is some discoloration, mostly around the perimeter, probably due to sunlight o perhaps some water over the years. Between subject and condition, this is one of the best Georgian silk embroidery...

18th century George III silk embroidered nautical scene, circa 1780, a refined picture made by hand-embroidered silk on silk, with hand painted details, depicting a version of the Classic "Sailor's Farewell" with a Patrician young lady in melancholic pose on shore leaning against an anchor, gazing at a ship sailing away over the horizon with presumably her beau. The quality of the embroidery is exquisite as is typical with these early silks, and the painted details include very delicately done facial features and hair, as well as the wispy clouds in the blue sky. These silk embroideries are thought to be the work of young ladies, no doubt from the upper classes to be able to afford such a dear material (as opposed to the thread and linen used by the middle class gals in their much more common finishing school Samplers. Georgian embroideries most often depicted stylized mourning or genre scenes; nautical pictures are really quite scarce. The ocean here is embroidered in a manner which seems reminiscent of Chinese Export work. This is a lovely companion piece to another Georgian nautical silk embroidery we have listed. Silk is extremely fragile and does not age well over the centuries, so this piece is actually in very good condition relative to most you would see. There are some rust stains coming through from nails in the mounting, several short tears from the backing, and some discoloration probably due to sunlight. Between subject and condition, it is probably the best Georgian silk embroidery...

A finely carved circa 1690 depiction of a gentleman in flowing robes and tunic, with large sections of original decoration and gilding. The piece has lost his legs from the knees ...

An animated half length portrait of a sailor, painted in a naive style oil on board. Dated 1775 and indistinctly signed W.C, housed in a pine frame with a scumble finish.   ...