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Exceptional Grouping of Two 19th Century Sailor-Made Carved Wooden Whimsies American or English, circa 1850–1890
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  • Exceptional Grouping of Two 19th Century Sailor-Made Carved Wooden Whimsies American or English, circa 1850–1890
  • Exceptional Grouping of Two 19th Century Sailor-Made Carved Wooden Whimsies American or English, circa 1850–1890
  • Exceptional Grouping of Two 19th Century Sailor-Made Carved Wooden Whimsies American or English, circa 1850–1890
  • Exceptional Grouping of Two 19th Century Sailor-Made Carved Wooden Whimsies American or English, circa 1850–1890
  • Exceptional Grouping of Two 19th Century Sailor-Made Carved Wooden Whimsies American or English, circa 1850–1890
  • Exceptional Grouping of Two 19th Century Sailor-Made Carved Wooden Whimsies American or English, circa 1850–1890
  • Exceptional Grouping of Two 19th Century Sailor-Made Carved Wooden Whimsies American or English, circa 1850–1890
  • Exceptional Grouping of Two 19th Century Sailor-Made Carved Wooden Whimsies American or English, circa 1850–1890
  • Exceptional Grouping of Two 19th Century Sailor-Made Carved Wooden Whimsies American or English, circa 1850–1890
Exceptional Grouping of Two 19th Century Sailor-Made Carved Wooden Whimsies American or English, circa 1850–1890
$275.00 USD

An exceptional and visually compelling grouping of two finely executed nineteenth-century sailor-made carvings, each demonstrating the ingenuity, patience, and remarkable hand skills associated with maritime folk art.
The centerpiece is a one-piece articulated carved maple chain, measuring 15 1/2 inches in overall length, painstakingly carved from a single block of maple. The chain terminates at one end with a stylized 4-inch carved table knife (approximately 7/8 inch wide) and at the other with a finely carved 2 1/2-inch diameter miniature plate or trencher embellished with concentric incised rings. Each link was individually released from the parent block without interruption, creating a fluid, fully articulated chain that remains remarkably intact. The restrained design, elegant proportions, and warm honey-colored patina exemplify the finest traditions of nineteenth-century sailor’s whimsy carving.
Accompanying the chain is a separate hand-carved pine spoon, measuring 7 1/4 inches in length with a generous 2 1/2-inch diameter bowl. The spoon is distinguished by a finely carved captive wooden ball enclosed within the pierced terminal of the handle—a classic demonstration of the carver’s technical virtuosity. The broad bowl is beautifully shaped with delicate chip-carved decoration along the upper handle, while the untouched surface has mellowed to a rich amber-brown patina through generations of careful handling.
Although independent carvings, together they create a wonderfully cohesive display celebrating the whimsical imagination and extraordinary craftsmanship of the nineteenth-century sailor-carver. The combination of the articulated maple chain with its knife and plate and the companion captive-ball spoon forms an exceptionally decorative and highly desirable grouping of maritime folk art with tremendous sculptural presence.
Dimensions
● Articulated maple chain: 15 1/2 in. long
● Carved knife: 4 in. long × approximately 7/8 in. wide
● Miniature plate: 2 1/2 in. diameter
● Carved pine spoon: 7 1/4 in. long
● Spoon bowl: 2 1/2 in. diameter