UK - London - Greenwich - National Maritime Museum - Figureheads 02_500_2627
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I must admit that I only popped into the National Maritime as I was desperate for the loo. I ended up spending a bit of time wandering around and decided that I need to go back and have a proper look as it proved far more interesting than I imagined.
I'm rather puzzled by the figurehead on the right here given according to Wikipedia the sculpture is meant to communicate the name of the ship....... Surely there wasn't a ship called 'Wardrobe Malfunction Medusa'........ When I return I'll check and let you know.
More shots from Museum from my travels : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157608768742010
P.S. As an Admin for the London Flickr Group I want to extend an invite to people with relevent photos to join and add them : www.flickr.com/groups/londonflickrgroup
From Wikipedia, "During the period from the 17th to the 18th centuries the carved subjects of figureheads varied from representations of saints to patriotic emblems such as the unicorns or lions popular on English ships. When the ship was named after a royal or naval personage the head and bust of the individual might be shown.
As with the stern ornamentation, the purpose of the figurehead was often to indicate the name of the ship in a non-literate society (albeit in a sometimes very convoluted manner); and always, in the case of naval ships, to demonstrate the wealth and might of the owner. At the height of the Baroque period, some ships boasted gigantic figureheads, weighing several tons and sometimes twinned on both sides of the bowsprit.
A large figurehead, being carved from massive wood and perched on the very foremost tip of the hull, adversely affected the sailing qualities of the ship. This, and cost considerations, led to figureheads being made dramatically smaller during the 18th century, and in some cases they were abolished altogether around 1800."
© D.Godliman
UK - London - Greenwich - National Maritime Museum - Figureheads 02_500_2627
My Website : Twitter : Facebook : Instagram : Photocrowd
I must admit that I only popped into the National Maritime as I was desperate for the loo. I ended up spending a bit of time wandering around and decided that I need to go back and have a proper look as it proved far more interesting than I imagined.
I'm rather puzzled by the figurehead on the right here given according to Wikipedia the sculpture is meant to communicate the name of the ship....... Surely there wasn't a ship called 'Wardrobe Malfunction Medusa'........ When I return I'll check and let you know.
More shots from Museum from my travels : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157608768742010
P.S. As an Admin for the London Flickr Group I want to extend an invite to people with relevent photos to join and add them : www.flickr.com/groups/londonflickrgroup
From Wikipedia, "During the period from the 17th to the 18th centuries the carved subjects of figureheads varied from representations of saints to patriotic emblems such as the unicorns or lions popular on English ships. When the ship was named after a royal or naval personage the head and bust of the individual might be shown.
As with the stern ornamentation, the purpose of the figurehead was often to indicate the name of the ship in a non-literate society (albeit in a sometimes very convoluted manner); and always, in the case of naval ships, to demonstrate the wealth and might of the owner. At the height of the Baroque period, some ships boasted gigantic figureheads, weighing several tons and sometimes twinned on both sides of the bowsprit.
A large figurehead, being carved from massive wood and perched on the very foremost tip of the hull, adversely affected the sailing qualities of the ship. This, and cost considerations, led to figureheads being made dramatically smaller during the 18th century, and in some cases they were abolished altogether around 1800."
© D.Godliman