Late 19th century Whirligig Depicting a Black Sailor with Barrel American, Late 19th Century
InformationRare whirligig in the form of a black sailor, American circa 1910. The sailor has a black painted face with a well-defined stylish mustache. He is wearing a short sleeve white shirt with curved color above a dark blue bow. There is a line at the waste, and the sailor hips are rounded and his slacks flare at the bottom in a traditional sailor bell bottom format. The sailor is wearing a white hat and black boots. His arms are outstretched in a typical sailor whirligig form and a white painted paddle is fitted through a hole in his hand on either side.
The sailor is standing on a gray painted wood grid or deck with a barrel mounted to his left.
The barrel is properly shaped and is painted brown. There are three pairs of silver painted barrel hoops and the top of the barrel in also painted silver. The sailor is mounted to the deck with 2 old patinated metal screws. (FA1224)
Condition: The carving has most of its original painted surface with minor scattered losses. All of the painted surfaces have a untouched crackle finish.
closes relatively easily and spins smoothly.
Reference: Carpenter, Jr., Charles H. and Mary Grace Carpenter, "The Decorative Arts and Crafts of Nantucket", New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1987, Pl. I facing page 115. There is a similar whirligig illustrated in color on the dust jacket.
Dimensions: Height 22 3/4 inches; Diameter of base 7 inches.
Dimensions: Height 15 ½ Inches, Width 14 Inches,
Late 19th Century
