Figureheads & Other Whimsical Carvings

Superstitious seafaring people have always sought good luck. Ever since the first vessels were built, sailors trying to ensure safe passage have attempted to pacify mysterious and unpredictable gods with offerings or symbols of faith.

The ship's figurehead, a typical example of this tradition, can take many forms, and over the centuries many motifs and symbols have been used for figureheads, including lions, human figures, horse (some with two heads ), serpents, doves, geese, as well as imaginary figures such as unicorns, griffins, dragons, and even a Cimbrian bull. One Spanish ship, Elefantern, built in 1741, had an elephant wearing a crown for it's figurehead. Another popular figure, presented in a variety of forms and poses, was the eagle, symbol of graceful flight and speed.

Early viking ships proudly displayed serpents and other deities to ward off evil omens of the deep, while a common figurehead for the American ships was the lion, following the practice of the English ships.

But by the middle of the eighteenth century, stylized carvings came into fashion, and a variety of subjects became acceptable subjects for figureheads. A New England vessel displaying a horse's head was sighted at Dunkirk, England in 1744, and soon many boats on both sides of the Atlantic abandoned the standard lion in favor of other figures.

Human figures began to appear in the late 1770s, and shortly thereafter everything from statesmen to Indians appeared on the fronts of ships. Greek
figures and figures dressed in medieval uniforms and battle dress were popular as well. It wasn't long before female figures began to appear. They were used on a great number of commercial ships after 1800, and often ship owners' wives were used as models.

Figureheads became more than just idols to ward off evil spirits and pacify the demons of the sea. Along with the elaborate carvings of quarter badges and transom embellishments, they became the symbols of individualism and a means of identification. Each vessel had its own personality which owners tried to suggest with stylized carvings. The larger vessels even had elaborate carvings at doorways and staircases. Often serpents or unusual sea creatures held up rail ends or surrounded balustrades or pillars. Each owner had different tastes and ideas, and would display them. In addition, the local carver was often given the freedom to express his own

An excellent example of an early ship with varied and unique carvings is the Swedish vessel Vasa. Hundreds of carvings are found all over the boat, but predominantly at the quarter galleries and stern.

This brings up to 2000, when a visitor to the schooner Larinda can get a taste of history by viewing Oliver Southwood, a fine frog figurehead.

Oliver was carved from one-hundred-year-old cypress by Susan R. White. It took her about two months, working six hours a day, five days a week, using hand tools, in the old tradition.

Once Oliver was roughed out, the fine work was done with delicate chisels and gouges. Final sanding was followed with a heavy coat of epoxy to seal all the wood and end grain.

Once the epoxy had cured, the figurehead was again sanded in preparation for final painting and coloring.

Oliver is wearing the dress uniform of John Paul Jones - fitting attire for a frog of Oliver's stature. In keeping with the general scheme of Larinda, a modified version of a 1767 colonial coastal schooner, period colors were selected for Oliver Southwood's uniform.
Oliver is holding a very heavy brass telescope. This strong piece lends strength to his otherwise thin arms and hands. ( I realize frogs don't have arms and hands, but please allow for a little poetic license here. )

During the thirty years of building Larinda there was never any doubt the figurehead would be a frog.

Larinda's transom is decorated with carved killer whales and a large scallop shell. These carvings are done in old hard pine and fastened to cypress planking.

Susan has also carved two dolphin heads on top of the forward knightheads. Below, dolphin armrests grace two of the settees, while aft in the great cabin two mermaids hold a shell over the centrally located loveseat.