Rare hand made sailor made rope knot board. All original. Original varnish. Great aged patina. We framed it in our modern all wood white shadow box frame with UV acrylic making this antique an object of art for your beach house. These are almost impossible to find anymore. I have been collecting them for years now its time to sell them.
Maritime, Collectible, Folk Art, Sailors Knot Boards, Various
As a folk-art tradition, knot boards, rope work such as braided macramé, and woolwork embroideries originated in the era of great ships and whalers during the 19th century. Sailors adopted such crafts (as well as whale bone scrimshaw and sailors’ shell valentines among others) to pass the time on board ship or as a hobby after retirement. The items they crafted were often made as gifts for their wives or sweethearts back home, and also were sold or bartered by the sailors aboard ship or at port.
Sewing was a necessary skill for making and repairing canvas sails aboard sailing vessels. According to the National Maritime Museum in London, many sailors also applied these skills to artistic production: “During the latter part of the 19th century there was also a popular fashion … for producing woolwork embroideries of nautical subjects (usually national flag displays or naval ships) [which continued] well into the 20th century.”
The ability to tie various knots and braid rope (macramé) for different purposes aboard ship was also an essential skill. Knot boards, some incorporating braided rope, were hand-made by sailors, not only as decorative works but also to showcase the sailor’s skills and provide examples for others to identify sophisticated sailing knots and to learn how to tie them. There are dozens of macramé knots, including the square knot, hitches, chain stitches, and Turk’s head. Sailors made functional nautical objects of macramé such as bell pulls, lanyards, rope ladders, and rope handles; cases for objects such as knifes and bottles; as well as footwear, belts, bracelets, and hats. The craft of knot tying and knot boards continues today; the National Maritime Museum in London has a fairly recent example of a knot board on loan from the collection of Queen Elizabeth II, produced in her honor in 1977.
“Sailors’ Craftwork.” National Maritime Museum.
This design features two intertwined ropes and may have been created by sailors during their long voyages as a means of remembering their loved ones. The Sailor's knot is symbolic of friendship, affection, harmony and love. Although it is a relatively simple knot to tie, it happens to be one of the strongest.
Knots themselves, which symbolize unbreakable pledges in the folklore of many cultures, were also used in many marriage rituals. For example, a Celtic knot is used to propose marriage. Similar to an engagement ring in modern times, the knot is accepted if the woman accepts the marriage proposal.
It’s like art...
Professionally framed in our own frame shop using an all-wood shadow box frame with acrylic. Our company has been selling framed historical Americana since 1990.
We only use brand new clean boxes and clean new packing material.
The shipping amount listed is the expense to ship the boxed item to you via FedEx Ground.
We do not charge for the new boxes and new packing material.
Shippers and shipping supply companies have raised prices significantly this year.
From non-smoking environment.
We only use brand new clean boxes and clean new packing material.
The shipping amount listed is the expense to ship the boxed item to you via FedEx Ground.
We do not charge for the new boxes and new packing material.
Shippers and shipping supply companies have raised prices significantly this year.
From non-smoking environment.
If you make an offer, please be kind and not offer half of the selling price. We have the cost of the item, and fees when a item sells. Also, we have the cost of the boxes, packing & labor to pack it.
Thank you for looking.
Museum framing with UV acrylic
Comes with our Certificate of Authenticity
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Shipping is additional, fob Atlanta Ga