19th Century Sailor’s Woolie of a British Frigate, circa 1870

19th Century Sailor’s Woolie of a British Frigate, circa 1870 , a British sailor’s hand-crafted woolwork picture with a large starboard side view of a frigate with single gun deck, under full sail, flying the Ensign of the Red Fleet off the spanker, on peaceful sea under pastel sky, with unique single white yarn version of the bow wave along length of hull. Nice to see such a large depiction of ship filling most of the field.

The woolie remains in good condition with no holes, pulls or nibbles, with uniform pastel patina. There are spots (perhaps from drops of furniture wood polish), mostly on the sails… actually pretty cool and unobtrusive, effectively giving the ship a look of having been well weathered at sea.

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: 16 in H x 23-1/2 in W
Framed: 19-7/8 in H x 27-1/4 in W