VOICES+
Voices
-James P. Delgado, Ph.D., Maritime Archaeologist, Historian, Author: “Figureheads are not only important for heritage issues but they are powerful for their artistic and cultural associations.”
-Daniel Finamore, Ph.D., Associate Director-Exhibitions and Russell W. Knight Curator of Maritime Art and History, Peabody Essex Museum: “Figureheads are at the nascent stage of scholarship. Not many really know a lot about attributions; that is, who carved what and what attributes relate to which carvers. I believe we’ll figure it out a lot more in the future.” Quoted in Wendy Moonan (2008 Jan.4) The New York Times “The Auction Block is the Next Step for a Well-Traveled Lady.”
-Larry Silver, Ph.D., Farquhar Professor Emeritus of History of Art, University of Pennsylvania: “Conventional art museums seldom present or preserve ship carvings, but for those who are interested in the subject, visit maritime museums. For me the mother of them all houses the wooden warship VASA named in the 17th c. for the ruling dynasty of Sweden. The 226' (68.8m) vessel has intact lavish carvings from figurehead to stern that adorned her when she sank on her maiden voyage on August 16, 1628.
“Many other countries have tremendous maritime museums as well, notably in Rotterdam and Amsterdam in the Netherlands and, especially, the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, downriver from London.
“And across the United States, exceptional figurehead and other collections are found in numerous maritime museums. Among the best are The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News (VA) and Mystic Seaport Museum (CT).
“You don’t have to be either a sailor or an art historian to delight in these glorious vestiges of a bygone era and once you begin to notice them, your glance will eagerly go to the bows of any preserved sailing ships you encounter.”
Values in Antique Market
*NOTE: This is meant solely to report on some published items and price ranges. It is not an endorsement of any carving description or other information about it.
* $262,400. Christie’s New York (2007 Jan.31). Lot 163. “A 19th century carved and polychromed wooden ship’s figurehead from the bark EDINBURGH. Buyer: European, private. https://www.christies.com/presscenter/pdf/01312007/18032.pdf
* $73,585 (52,000 GBP). 2019 Ap30. charlesmillerltd.com. Charles Miller, Auctioneers of Maritime & Scientific Models, Instruments & Fine Arts, London. Lot 164. “Figurehead of the yacht ‘Gelert’ R.Y.S. carved by James Hellyer of Hellyer & Son to the Order of R.&M. Ratsey’s Yard, West Cowes, 1867. Excellent photos. Description: realistically carved in lime wood as a full-length crouching deer hound waiting for a command, his head alert with inset brown glass eyes looking up, mounted on a scrollwork bow section with thole pin and securing holes and finished in contemporary silver-grey polychrome -- 17 x 54 x 9in. (43 x 137 x 23cm.)Provenance: Aboard Gelert, 1867-1891; Ratsey's Yard, Isle of Wight, 1891-c.1960s; Digby Coventry (1919-2014), acquired from Ratsey's dispersal sale on closure, c.1960s, and thence by descent.”
* $45,000. 2021 June, Maine Antique Digest p.76 reports John Haley Bellamy eagle, not a figurehead & approx. 57x10x5”, realized $45,000 at New Haven Auctions, Branford, CT.
* $15,000. 2021 June, Maine Antique Digest p.98, shows “carved stern board portrait bust of Daniel Webster.” Dated c. 1850, 29-1/2” high. Provenance and vessel history are provided in the description.
Some jobs involve basic knowledge of figureheads
-Antique dealer, Auction house staff, Conservation specialist.
-Maritime Museum staff (archivist, curator, educator, librarian, management.)
-Educators about art, history, maritime studies, nautical archaeology.
-Member organizations of the ICMM (International Council of Maritime Museums) and CAMM (Council of American Maritime Museums) are large owners of ship figureheads and other carved hull art.
-If you need a figurehead image to incorporate in a classroom lecture, please contact me through the homepage of this website or directly at olsenca2016@gmail.com. Figurehead images enliven discussions about politics, wood identification, geography, naval architecture, & more!