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The Figurehead Archives

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Built up during a period of over 40 years the full Figurehead Archive can be divided into two quite distinctive areas of research, the first and The Figurehead Archivesperhaps most important are the photographic representations of Ships Figureheads, both on and off the vessels, plus a number of other Maritime Woodcarvings, such as Stern Board Carvings, and Cats Heads, this is built up from historic Black and White prints taken from the early 1900’s until the late 1950’s, to more contemporary prints in colour, and now digital images.

The Archive also has an extensive collection of colour slides from both private and public collections around the world, many show Figureheads that have been lost due to war, fire, neglect, or are no longer on public display or form part of private collections.

In many ways it has been possible to study the life of individual carvings over a long period of time, looking at both historic black and white photos and more contemporary prints showing before and after restoration or damage, at the moment the photographic collection stands at around 45,000 images, including slides, photographs and digital images, with new items added almost daily.

The second part of the Figurehead Archive is a library of over 800 books and publications on the subject of Ships Figureheads, Maritime, Woodcarvings, Maritime Antiques including a large number of magazines, newspaper articles and cuttings from the 1850’s to the present day from all around the world. As with the photographic collection the bibliography material is being constantly added to building a collection and archive of international importance.

Sign
Richard Hunter,
Figurehead Historian.

Female Figurehead For Sale

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The “Hunter Figurehead Archives” offer visitors to it’s website a wonderful opportunity to buy a fine looking figurehead in the form of a young woman in a traditional costume of the nineteenth century, skilfully carved in sold mahogany, 90cm in height and 40 x 40cm with a weight of approximately 22.5 kg, (49.6 lbs)   she was originally bought by the present owners father in Bremen Germany in the early 1970’s and is now offered for sale for the first time.

She would make an ideal wall decoration for a working office or coastal summer house, we are looking for a price in the region of £5,000 for this wonder carving however this is negotiable.

For more details or additional photos please e-mail me direct at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I will endeavour to help in any way that I can.
(Shipping of this figurehead can also be arranged by the present owner )

FOR SALE

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Two unique replica Figureheads carved by
The well respected Charles Moore

Finding an authentic Ships Figurehead in today’s Antiques market is becoming extremely difficult, and if you do find one in an antique shop or auction the prices can be  prohibitive, modern day fibreglass replicas lack the appeal and weight of real wood, over 50 years ago Charles Moore gave up a well established clock making business in Clerkenwell London and moved lock stock and barrel to the beautiful Cornish coastal village of St Just-in-Roseland, finding a set of old woodcarvers chisels, and with a love or the sea and all things nautical,  Charles began to carve small copies of original Figureheads that could still be found in the local harbours and villages around the coast, the local Isles of Scilly  and the magnificent collection on Tresco served as inspiration in those early days.

Read more: FOR SALE

Figureheads of the Royal Navy By David Pulvertaft

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A review by Richard Hunter Figurehead Historian

by david pulvertaft 1Not all that long ago looking for a book on the subject of Ships Figureheads was very much limited to a few “General” works on the subject, exploring as they did the tradition on both Merchant and Naval vessels, offering the reader a narrow insight into both subjects, for anyone interested in primarily Naval Figureheads “Old Ship Figureheads and Sterns” by L G Carr Laughton published in 1925 has been the principal source of information, dealing with the style and construction of decorative carved work on and around the bow and stern of vessels, as well as British Naval Figureheads, Laughton also deals with the tradition of decoration in other major European nations, such as France, Spain, The Netherlands and Scandinavia,  with a number of re-prints over the years this I am sure will continue to be one of the primary  sources of information, when Laughton began to write  his book during the first quarter of the twentieth century.

Read more: Figureheads of the Royal Navy By David Pulvertaft

A Special member of staff

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Lady_Hamilton_Hotel_-_LobbyStep into the reception of any World class hotel and you will be invariably greeted at the desk by an attractive young woman or handsome young man, always eager to help and make your stay as pleasant as possible, in the hope that you will visit them again or recommend the hotel to family and friends, was the room comfortable, the service and food good, all questions to make your stay as pleasant as possible. The facilities vary from hotel to hotel; some rely on Old World charm with a magnificent location, others modern and stylist, it’s a very competitive market.

Read more: A Special member of staff

17th and 18th Century Ship Models from the Kriegstein Collection

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KRIEGSTEIN COLLECTIONSecond Revised and Expanded Edition,
By Arnold and Henry Kriegstein

If it is possible to say that a good book can be savored like a fine wine or a wonderful meal, then this book is such a feast, a delight to the sensors in so many ways, like a good meal the first impression on this book is sumptuous, one is more than eager to dig in. This second revised and expanded edition is a fascinating account of how twin brothers Arnold and Henry Kriegstein embarked on a remarkable journey to acquire the Worlds largest private collection of authentic British Admiralty Models from the seventeenth and eighteenth century, this was achieved over many years  through a combination of sheer determination and rugged perseverance, between the two of  them they have been  rewarded with a collection of International importance.

Read more: 17th and 18th Century Ship Models from the Kriegstein Collection

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Telegraph Gallery

Figurehead photos for the Telegraph on-line
Just published a gallery of Figurehead images by
Richard Hunter , click here to visit the site...

Unique Opportunity...

Watercolours for Sale
to acquire the
Original
Watercolours

used to illustrate
the book,
 “Warship Figureheads
of Portsmouth”

Richard Hunter