19th Century Sailor’s Woolie of a British Frigate Within Floral Reserve, circa 1840

19th Century Sailor’s Woolie of a British Frigate Within Floral Reserve, circa 1840, a British Sailor’s hand-crafted woolwork picture with a larboard side view of a ship-rigged frigate under sail with main course furled, flying the white ensign off spanker and admiral’s pennant at the main peak, set against ivory sky and sea, within a wrath of roses cartouche, on a pastel blue field. There is golden silk or mercantile cotton thread along gunnel, row of gunports and waterline, and forming saint George’s Cross on the ensign. There are two black lines in the water forward of the bow – I can’t imagine what they could be if not porpoises or whales.

The woolie remains in very good condition with the expected soft fading, and a few scattered small pulls to the yarn. Mounted in the original bird’s eye maple frame with gilded filet.

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: 12-1/4 in H x 19-1/4 in W
Framed: 17-3/8 in H x 24-3/8 in W