19th Century Large Sailor’s Woolie of a Triple Deck Ship-of-the-Line, circa 1870

19th Century Large Sailor’s Woolie of a Triple Deck Ship-of-the-Line, circa 1870, an unusually large Sailor’s woolwork picture with a larboard side view of a triple decker Ship-of-the-Line under full sail, no steam despite presence of a smoke stack amidships, flying the Red Ensign at the stern and quite the Admiral’s pennant at the main peak, approaching an off-shore light house on a spectacular checkered sea. Note the well-defined figurehead at the bow, and the use of beads at each gunport and along the waterline, and the use of knots as masthead carvings. Large and unusual… quite the stunner.

The woolie remains in good condition with very strong colors. There are some pulls to the yarn and a very small amount of old loss, but mostly along the edges and they blend in very well to the texture of the sky and sea. Mounted in a 19th Century burl frame.

The woolie remains in very good condition with strong colors. Mounted in its original curly maple veneered frame.

Sailor’s woolworks were a craft taught at British Naval Hospitals, and were in effect the world’s first occupational therapy. The majority were made between the 1830s and 1880s, and while sailors then turned to other crafts in vogue, some were occasionally made up to the World War I era. The sailors who took to the craft continued to make them in ever more elaborate and fanciful patterns after release, to sell to locals and tourists in order to support themselves.

Even those woolies depicting American or other nation’s flags were made by the British sailors (they knew their market well)! However, a very small percentage were also made by Trinity House lighthouse keepers, and a tiny amount by sailors from other nations (who most likely had served at one time on a British ship).

Measures: 21-1/8 in H x 31-1/8 in W
Framed: 25 in H x 35-7/8 in W