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

View Similar Items

Wood Table Ship's Door

19th Century Carved Ship Figurehead Oak Wood Female Figure Antique Maritime

Brass Ship's Inclinometer, circa 1910

1930s German Black Forest Hand Carved Wood Pipe

Circa 1920s English Ship's Masthead Lantern

Authentic Ship's Block

Sold Brass Ship's Searchlight Mounted to a Ship's Decking Pedestal

19th Century Carved and Painted Ship's Billethead

1930s Hand-carved Pharmacy Stone Mortar

1930s Hand Carved Pharmacy Stone Mortar

Fine Antique Brass Clad Mahogany Ship’s Wheel

Antique Folk Art Hand-Carved Ships

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 5

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

More From This Seller

View All

Seven Falls Colorado Springs Antique Photographic Postcard, circa 1880

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Presented is an antique photographic postcard of Seven Falls, Colorado, from 1880. Postcard production blossomed in the late 1800s and early 1900s, as railroads opened up much of the Western frontier to new and exciting travel opportunities. Seven Falls is one of Colorado’s most captivating natural wonders. Located at the base of the Front Range, this magnificent series of waterfalls is situated in a 1,250-foot-wall box canyon between the towering Pillars of Hercules and boasts a 181-foot drop of falling water. Seven Falls was originally part of land given to Nathan Colby in 1872 as part of the Homestead Act of 1862. The Homestead Act granted 160 acres of surveyed land to pioneers in the west, with claimants required to “improve” the plot by building a dwelling and cultivating the land. Mr. Colby promptly sold the track of land to James Hull...

Category

Antique 1880s American Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Paper

Seven Falls Colorado Springs Antique Photographic Postcard, circa 1880

$650

Inside the Space Ships, Signed by George Adamski, First Edition, 1955

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Adamski, George. Inside the Space Ships. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1955. Signed first edition, third printing. Original dust jacket. Housed in custom slipc...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Books

Materials

Paper

Inside the Space Ships, Signed by George Adamski, First Edition, 1955

$1,250

38-Star Antique American Flag with Unique Canton, circa 1876-1890

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

This is a striking 38-star American flag. The flag dates to 1876-1890, when Colorado (represented by the large star in the center of the flag’s canton) joined the Union as the 38th s...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Muslin

38-Star Antique American Flag with Unique Canton, circa 1876-1890

$15,500

Douglas Adams Signed Antique Print, Hunting Scene, Artist Proof, circa 1893

By Douglas Adams

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

This is the artist proof edition of an untitled hunting scene by Douglas Adams. The print was issued in a limited, numbered edition of 300 and is signed by the artist in the margin. ...

Category

Antique 1890s British Prints

Materials

Paper

Douglas Adams Signed Antique Print, Hunting Scene, Artist Proof, circa 1893

$4,750

"Rough Shooting" First Edition Antique Engraving by Douglas Adams, circa 1893

By Douglas Adams

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

This is a first edition print of Rough Shooting, signed by the artist, Douglas Adams. The print was published by Thomas McLean and depicts a highlands s...

Category

Antique 1890s British Prints

Materials

Paper

"Rough Shooting" First Edition Antique Engraving by Douglas Adams, circa 1893

$3,950

1864 Map of North America, Antique Hand-Colored Map, by Adolphe Hippolyte Dufour

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Offered is a map of North America entitled Amerique du Nord from 1864. This rare, separately published wall map was produced by Adolphe Hippolyte Dufour. This map includes vibrant an...

Category

Antique 1860s French Maps

Materials

Paper

1864 Map of North America, Antique Hand-Colored Map, by Adolphe Hippolyte Dufour

$4,500

Vintage 1930s Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Wood Table Ship's Door

$2,195

19th Century Carved Ship Figurehead Oak Wood Female Figure Antique Maritime

Located in Milan, IT

Figurehead in carved oak depicting a female figure whose body has the shape of a siren, symbol of fertility and protection, with female features in the upper part and fish tail inste...

Category

Antique 1870s Nautical Objects

Materials

Wood

19th Century Carved Ship Figurehead Oak Wood Female Figure Antique Maritime

$44,691

Brass Ship's Inclinometer, circa 1910

Located in London, GB

A brass ship's inclinometer, circa 1910. Scale in degrees from the vertical to 40° of tilt/list. An inclinometer, or clinometer, is an instrument used for measuring angles of s...

Category

Early 20th Century English Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Brass Ship's Inclinometer, circa 1910

$814

1930s German Black Forest Hand Carved Wood Pipe

Located in Tarrytown, NY

1930s German Black Forest Hand carved wood pipe with antler top.

Category

Vintage 1930s Tobacco Accessories

Materials

Wood

1930s German Black Forest Hand Carved Wood Pipe

$550

Circa 1920s English Ship's Masthead Lantern

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Circa 1920s ship's masthead lantern, English. A fine example of copper with brass fittings & heavy molded clear glass panel. Retains the likely original oil lmap on copper sliding pa...

Category