Figurehead & Maritime Articles

This years London Boat show held at the ExCel Centre in the London Docklands between the 8th and 12th January saw the first public appearance of the Hampshire based carver Glyn Foulkes new figurehead of the iconic British Naval hero Horatio Lord Nelson.

Well known for his original three dimensional artwork across a wide range of media and styles,for the unique carving Glyn has spent a considerable amount of time in the galleries of the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth researching the numerous images of Nelson, from the museums major collection of related  paintings, decorative arts to the evocative life and death masks, building up a feel of  how the real Nelson looked, the man behind the legend, once this essential research was completed a half size clay model of the figurehead was made, historically cavers of such an important and significant commission produced a small Maquette for the client  showing how they hoped the  finished carving would look,  these models also served as a three-dimensional  guide for the finished carving with a number of minor changes.

From the celebrated artist Kevin Dean
A unique opportunity, exclusive to the Figurehead Archives, to acquire original watercolours used to illustrate the book,
 “Warship Figureheads of Portsmouth” from the Author David Pulvertaft.

Original Watercolours for Sale

For anyone interested in the subject of Naval Figureheads this is a rare opportunity to buy an original watercolour by the well known and very respected artist and illustrator Kevin Dean MA ( RCA ).

Auctioneer of fine figureheads and other nautical treasures,

Charles Miller

2008 saw the establishment in London of a new independent auction house specializing in the maritime world: from paintings, ship models and artefacts to Navigation and Scientific instruments, Charles Miller Ltd is situated in Blythe Road near the large Olympia complex at Kensington. Charles Miller is very much the Figurehead of this new company, the former head of the Maritime Objects department at Christies South Kensington with twelve years experience, his department set a number of world records most notable being that of an Admiralty Board Model of the 1703 Establishment which achieved £663,730 in the November 2003 sale.

Very little is know as to the name of this massive female figurehead, for many years she stood in the Yard of Hughes Bolkow at Battleship Wharf in Blyth, and may well have been taken from a vessel broken up by this company, in time she was moved over to stand outside the main office … Read more

PUSSER’S RUM brought cheer to British sailors the world over for over three centuries. It was first introduced in the Tropics, because where traditional ale spoilt rapidly,  in 1655, but soon became standard issue across the fleet. Splice the Mainbrace! MORE INFORMATION

A spectacular cold cast bronze powder-filled resin bust, mounted on Victory oak plinth with a section of copper plating on one side. The plinth measures 7″ square and 2″ thick whilst the bust is 12″ tall and 8″ wide, weighing 8.5-lb. MORE INFORMATION

This Lord Nelson Candle Snuffer candle snuffer relies heavily on the fine sculptural details of the medals and facial features united by the strong colours used in the fine hand painting. Measures 5” tall, 2” wide. MORE INFORMATION

These ships-in-bottles combine wooden hulls with printed card superstructures, extensive rigging and detailed sails. They are made in England by a small family enterprise to a style that has been popular for several decades. The ships are set in realistic-looking seas, with name boards and placed in distinctive genuine Haig’s Dimple or other appropriate bottles … Read more

By David Pulvertaft
Illustrated by Kevin Dean
With a foreword by HRH The Princess Royal.

REVIEWED by Richard Hunter Figurehead Historian.

The Warship Figureheads of Portsmouth By David Pulvertaft

Books on the collective subject of Ships Figureheads both Naval and Merchant  are relatively rare, only a hand full have been published in the United Kingdom during the past ten or more years, books on the more specific and detailed  subject of British Naval Figureheads are rarer still, retired Rear Admiral David Pulvertaft has been researching into British Naval Figureheads for over fifteen years, during that time he has been able to build up a vast collection of related material.

With a painted Smile & a wooden heart, a tradition of Ships Figureheads.
By Richard Hunter.

Sal Polisis, Woodcarver in residence.

Looking out from the windows of his workshop, under the bows of two historic Museums ships “WAVERTREE” and “PEKING” in New York South Street Seaport district, Sal Polisis woodcarver in residence to the Museum, is in an ideal position to study one of his most challenging and interesting commissions to date. A full size replacement Figurehead for the Square-rigged sailing ship “WAVERTREE”, now part of the Museums fleet of historic vessels.