NAUTICAL ANTIQUES

NAUTICAL ANTIQUES

NAUTICAL ANTIQUES

Mam1 of the most ardent collectors of 'nauticalia' - items relating to ships and the sea - are themselves boat owners, but the decorative carvings of scrimshaw work can be appreciated without any nautical Widely different kinds of antiques are included among nautical items: precision instruments, ceramics and fine art among them. Chronometers and navi­gational instruments
'Rodney's Sailor' Toby jugs, ships' fittings, paintings and, above
 all, sailors' craft work provide their own glimpses of life at sea.

SA1LORWORK AND SCRIMSHAW

NAUTICAL ANTIQUES

Much of the best nautical craft work was created by i9th-century seamen on whaling trips, which could last for up to five years and involve many idle hours. Whaling sailors developed their own handicrafts, among the best known of which are scrimshaw (carvings in ivory, wood and so on) and woolwork portraits of ships. Some sailors also brought back shell-work souvenirs - 'sailors' valen­tines' - from foreign ports.

Most scrimshaw was made from the teeth of sperm whales, which were generally engraved with scenes of life at sea, portraits of those left at home, or views of contemporary events. At auction today, they fetch anything from £200 to £12,000, depending on the quality of work and subject matter. Whaling scenes are the most keenly sought.

Collectors need to beware, however, as large numbers of replica scrimshawed whale teeth are being made from injection-moulded resin. This can usually be identified by its rather greasy surface and warm feel when compared with a real whale's tooth.

The pieces are also often over-decorated and dated, unlike most originals. Modern repro­ductions on real teeth also exist. These can usually be identified from the whiteness of the ivory and the style of decoration, which is too finely worked and too modern in appearance. Technical mistakes and anachronisms in whaling scenes may also be a give away.

NAUTICAL ANTIQUES

Sailors' valentines made of shells and often with heart motifs or mottoes such as 'forget me not' are usually mounted in an octagonal case. They were not made by sailors themselves but were bought in the West Indies and some bear the name 'Barbados'. These valentines can now fetch up to £800.

Many model ships in bottles and three- dimensional shipping scenes, or dioramas, were made by sailors and fishermen in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ships in bottles generally fetch between £100 and £300, depending on their size and intricacy. Com­plex shipping dioramas sell for as much as £1000, or smaller ones for £ 150-£200.

SHIP MODELS AND FITTINGS

Shipbuilders' models are much more detailed and precise. They were used from the 17th century onwards to show the internal con­struction of the hull, and the stern and how decoration, to prospective buyers. Apart from their intrinsic beauty, such models give a fascinating insight into how ships were built in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Nineteenth-century dockyard models are normally made from laminated wood and are often half-block models. These show one side of the hull only, to indicate its shape to the builders, and they have little deck detail or decoration. Rare i7th-century ship models will sell for £50,000, or even more, whereas simpler, half- block models for commercial vessels will generally go for between £300 and £500.

NAUTICAL ANTIQUES

In quite a different class are the highly detailed scale models often presented to the owner of an important vessel when it was launched. They are generally mounted in a glass case and hear a plaque giving the details of the shipyard and marine engine maker. The value of such a piece depends on its size and quality, and on the type of vessel. An average-sized 6-10 ft . model can fetch between £5000 and £25,000 at auction. A half-block version with full deck details will usually reach £2000-£5000.

There is always a demand for ships' equip­ment, and larger pieces - such as ships' wheels and binnacle compasses - are sought after as interior decoration for homes and restaurants, as are brass portholes (£50-£100 at auction) and bells. Painted sea chests sell at about £300-£500, but many replicas exist.