Find the World's Best Figureheads
Carved wood figureheads are a specialized art form. Learn more at these locations. More to be added
(Note: for modern bow decorations see www.hullartships.com)
USA
California
-Maritime Museum of San Diego. Figureheads are on floating museum-owned vessels including STAR OF INDIA., shown on right.
San Francisco Maritime Museum. Davy Crockett is one of their most interesting figureheads.
Connecticut
-Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT. Highly recommended for exhibit "Figureheads & Shipcarvings" in Wendell Gallery. The recently-updated display was made possible through a Henry Luce Foundation grant. Also see cast figurehead on vessel JOSEPH CONRAD and a billethead on the 1840 CHARLES W. MORGAN.
Maine
-Bath Maritime Museum, Bath, ME. Recommended for figureheads on display that relate to Maine maritime history.
Massachusetts
-Peabody Essex Museum is one of the best locations for the study of figureheads. Their outstanding collection includes carvings attributed to significant American carvers William Rush, Simeon Skillin, Jr., and Charles A. L. Sampson, and the manner in which figureheads are displayed in their East India Hall makes it possible to view them with ample light and from different angles.
Pennsylvania
-Philadelphia Maritime Museum. Recommended for its display of an important female figurehead by William Rush.
Virginia
-The Mariners Museum, Newport News, VA. Highly recommended for figureheads on display and particularly the extraordinary Bellamy eagle with 22’ wing span made for USS HARTFORD. Their International Small Boat Building also has several excellent examples of boats with hull art.
EUROPE
Sweden, Karlskrona. Naval museum. Outstanding figureheads by Johan Tornstrom (1743-1828). These carvings are beautifully displayed so that visitors may see all sides of the figurehead. They are well spaced with ample light in a beautiful setting. A visit to this museum is highly recommended.
Sweden, Stockholm. VASA Museum.. Original carvings on hull of 1628 warship. This is a treasure of shipcarving. and should not be missed.
UNITED KINGDOM
England, Greenwich. National Maritime Museum. The figurehead collection is repainted and closely spaced. A very good display describes the story of the witch Nannie Dee as the figurehead for CUTTY SARK.
Euterpe figurehead on STAR OF INDIA at San Diego Maritime Museum. Photo by Carol Olsen.